The acclaimed 2009 Japanese film Air Doll has a lot of similar vibes to the United States film Lars and the Real Girl that starred Ryan Gosling.

In both films, the man falls in love and has an unconventional relationship with a sex doll.

In the case of Air Doll, it takes a more serious romantic tone as a fantasy movie rather than a comedy with the United States version.

The romantic fantasy was celebrated back in 2009 at the world’s top film festivals and has never been officially released in the United States.

Here’s the official synopsis:

A life-size Air Doll lives in a shabby apartment in Tokyo. She cannot speak, nor can she move. But she is the only companion her middle-aged master has. He talks to her, puts her in a bath, and makes love with her every day after he returns from work.

This routine life is disrupted when fantasy turns into reality. The Air Doll suddenly comes to life, filled with a soul. Like a newborn baby, she doesn’t understand what is going on around her, but she sees a world waiting to be explored outside the apartment. Eventually, venturing to the outside world, the Air Doll is fascinated by everything she sees, and though she meets many people from all walks of life, they can’t seem to provide her an answer to what ‘being alive’ means.

When the Air Doll wanders into a video store, her world is forever changed. She meets Junichi, the clerk, and immediately falls in love with him. The Air Doll begins working in the store and every day, she and Junichi become close: they go to the movie and explore the city together…like a couple. Everything is going perfectly for the Air Doll, until one day when her hand is accidentally cut and she begins to deflate in front of Junichi.

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The film stars Bae Doona (The Host, Sense8). Hirokazu Kore-eda (Shoplifters, Still Walking) directed the film with cinematographer Mark Lee Ping-Bing (In the Mood For Love).

This romantic fantasy explores the complexities of love and loss, joy and pain, fantasy and reality with this bittersweet love story.

Air Doll releases in select theaters and VOD on February 4.

Check out some of the stills and an old trailer of the film below.

Source: Dekanalog