Date: April 23, 2008
Location: Clifton Living Room

That’s what Lars Lindstrom says about a bouquet of fake flowers given to his “girlfriend,” an anatomically correct doll, and it neatly sums up the sad psychology behind his delusion. Afraid of attachment following the death of his mother in childbirth (his own) and a painful childhood the details of which are only hinted at, Lars lives in a bubble of solitude that borders on autism. His brother and sister-in-law try to engage him without much success. Until one day he shows up at their door with Bianca, the lifelike mannequin he’s convinced is a real woman.

The movie’s conceit is that everybody in Lars’ small town cares for him enough that they’re willing to play along with his delusion if it helps draw him out of his shell. It’s a stretch, but it works, largely due to the excellent performances of the entire cast (Patricia Clarkson, Emily Mortimer and Kelli Garner shine as the “real” women in his life, and the great Paul Schneider steals all of his scenes as Lars’ brother).

The film toes the fine line between comedy and tragedy, finding humor in the absurd situations without once looking down on Lars. It’s a testament to the deservedly Oscar-nominated screenplay that the viewer grows just as attached to Bianca, and what she represents, as the rest of the town.

Lars is an overlooked gem and yet another reason 2007 was one of the deepest years in a long time in terms of quality.