Lars and the real girl: Comes with rosy-colored glasses
10/20/2007 03:23 PM by Gretchen Schauffler
The uniquely colored vision of Lars and the Real Girl lets you feel the lack of love in Lars’ life through his stone-cold and grayish-white home, where the bleakness of the colors say more about his life than he is willing to admit. When he finally decides to do something about it, he orders a “girl-in-a-box,” a life-size doll as the answer to his life-size loneliness. Bianca arrives on the scene: black vinyl boots, fishnets included, as a perfect match for a man who feels so isolated, human touch hurts like a burn.
Yet, this “emotional receptacle”, in the plastic shape of a raven vixen, takes on a life of her own through the eyes of Lars: a paralyzed missionary, so strong in her religious convictions that she sleeps in a guest room in Lars’ brother’s house, goes to church and becomes part of his community who attempt to extinguish the loneliness in Lars’s life by also pretending that she is real. (at the advice of the town therapist until his delusion is over)
Like color speaks of Lars’s bleak existence, so do the quality of pinks and reds in clothing, flowers, pictures and spaces that become the warm, and loving symbol of a glorious femininity, always, almost within his reach, waiting for an invitation to his life.
These pink hues cover the screen like a healthy afterglow. Check out the perfect pink guest bedroom, and the sexy vintage mauve outfits, yes you heard me, SEXY VINTAGE MAUVES that begin to creep into his world, and sweeten his sorrows away.
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These loving and affectionate colors pulsate like timely heart beats to the earthy, grounded, and loyal browns, with the common-sense grays, and true-to-self blues of the film. Watch him hold firmly a fuchsia-pink bowling ball in his hand as he begins to play the game of life.
Guys, take your wives, girlfriends, daughters, mothers, and friends to this “I-am-not-a–chick-flick” chick-flick, but a “meat-potatoes-and-dessert-flick” (chick-flick). Wives, girlfriends, daughters, mothers, and friends, do them a favor and invite the guys! Not only will it satisfy everyone’s sweet-tooth (and yes, we all have one) but it will remind you of a truth often ignored yet often addressed by Mother Teresa: “Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat.” She knew that both hungers went hand-in-hand.
A movie like Lars and the Real Girl, surprisingly, reminds us of this by highlighting the obverse truth: that we need both the love of others and to love others, to not only be happy, but to live.
Gretchen Schauffler
Artist and Founder of Devine Color®
‘Lars and the Real Girl’
Rated PG-13 (some sex-related content)
Cast Ryan Gosling, Paul Schneider, Emily Mortimer, Patricia Clarkson
Director Craig Gillespie
Writer Nancy Oliver
Running time 1 hour, 46 minutes
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Thanks for sharing an interpretation I had not recognized of this wonderful film. I was so wrapped up in the psychology & emotions of the character that the colors were lost on me. Your perspective gives me something else to reflect on in regard to this amazing movie.
p.s. I think your colors and paint quality are top notch!
— Rochelle 10/26/2007 11:42 AM #
Great review. I was thinking like Rochelle.
— Jeff 10/26/2007 03:18 PM #
What a remarkable film. One of the best I’ve seen in a very long time. This film is not a comedy though I laughed out loud at least 30 times. The film shows the best of community, the depth of family and friendship along with respect for the individual. Gretchen’s color analysis gave me a new perspective to this very creative and entertaining film.
— Liz 10/26/2007 03:53 PM #
Great review. I loved this film and know it will become part of my library when it goes to disc. It’s an amazingly human film that shouldn’t be missed. I’ll have to see it again to apply Gretchen’s color analysis.
— Melanie 10/27/2007 10:15 AM #
eu gostaria de receber um leque de cores de vcs meu tel é
— gilmar antonio da silva 11/03/2007 07:40 AM #
Encha por favor para fora o formulário do contato em nossa seção do contato do Web site. Obrigado
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— gretchen Schauffler 11/03/2007 11:26 PM #
estou aguardando retorno de vcs referente o catalogio de cores, obrigado
— gilmar antonio da silva 11/23/2007 03:12 AM #
Gilmar
Você pode requisitar em linha todos nossos cores e produtos em http://www.devinecolor.com/shop.html. Nós podemos emitir-lhe a informação, enchemos por favor para fora nosso contato com de seu endereço. Agradecimentos para visitar
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— gretchen Schauffler 11/27/2007 02:25 AM #