Dolls

I bought this item and before I watched it I tried to explain the plot to a couple people and failed miserably. I began to worry about whether or not this film would be interesting at all. I am a fan of Takeshi Kitano but I heard in so many places that it was very different from his other work. It started off a little slow, a lot of shots seemed to linger a bit longer than you feel comfortable with. While some people would see this as boring and pointless, I began to realize that this film had something deeper, more innate to it. Just the way the shots were made brought a certain life to the film, something that can't be achieved by words alone. The film is not about action, or witty dialogue, however it is a film about emotion. I jest that it has a silent protagonist (Matsumoto) since there are actually so few lines spoken by him. Even though there weren't many lines at all, the film focused on character emotion. This can be seen beautifully in Sawako's plight after the ball toy was crushed. Once again it was a shot that lingered, but each time she tried to use it, you could see the sadness in her face, her constant reminder how everything she loves ends up dying. This theme, though never directly said, was so powerful and it made you really feel the emotions of the character. This film almost makes you lose all hope, it is a very depressing, real film that most people probably wouldn't appreciate. This is not a fairy tale where everyone lives happily ever after, it brings harsh reality to situations and leaves you with an almost empty feeling at the end. I can safely say that this film has a lot to offer to those willing to take it in. If nothing else appreciate the beauty of the camera shots taken as this is another amazing point of the film. The scenery is nothing short of astounding throughout the film. This film needs to be taken in and allowed to swell inside for a good while to really understand it, like I said, approach with an open mind and you will not be disappointed; after all, it is a Takeshi Kitano film, and it doesn't fail to deliver.

This is a very different way to make a movie from T. Kitano. No violent scenes, few or none blood. But is deep and powerful. To me this movie make me to cry for the lost of the most beloved a true love. The three stories are highly dramatic and have a similar beginning and end without a trace of swords, guns, ammo, or blood as mr Kitano usually does.

This is an extremely creative movie; although you have to really pay attention, and take into consideration the metaphor with the old lovers being referred to the dolls.I do not want to spoil it, but the imagery is absolutey gorgeous!

It takes a while for DOLLS to sink in. Not because of the complexity of the stories intertwined through the film but because of the sheer emotional impact virtually every scene carries with it.

If you like Japanese movies and Kitano, you will love this. We did.

The international trailer for *Dolls* has a voiceover that claims the film is "a new direction for Takashi Kitano: beautiful and cruel love stories" - a claim correct on both counts. The film is simply gorgeous, meticulously framed and bathed in eye-bleeding color; the storytelling is like a knife to the heart. *Dolls* is also a slow go, requiring patience and contemplation: it's 'arthouse' cinema to the tee, tiptoeing upon the precipice between aesthetic evocation and outright pretension. In my opinion it lands safely on the substantive side - Kitano knows what he's doing here, and none of his metaphors are forced - but opinions will vary.In one of the opening scenes, a young couple (Hidetoshi Nishijima and Miho Kanno) stride through a cherry blossom grove, their gait slow, dissolute, hinting at interior damage; a silk red cord bounds the two together. Onlookers and tourists gape at the pair, dubbed the "bound beggars," and, when the cord hits a snag and halts their progress, several chortle at the absurdity. The forward momentum of the pair is obstructed by something behind them, that which is 'past.' It's an effective beginning, for the audience is forced to wonder: Who are these two? What has led them to this spiritual impasse? Kitano then proceeds to answer this through a series of flashbacks, constructing the essence of tragic love with understated dialogue, random memories and long, wordless sections featuring the couple trudging through the Japanese countryside, drifting through the lives of others. These wandering dolls are juxtaposed by two other stories, one involving fandom for J-pop, the other a 30-year absence between former lovers. Questions are asked, without words: what is the price one will pay for love?*Dolls* was savaged upon initial release, the attention-span of critics and audience members alike chaffing under the slow, slow, slow progression of events and the surreal metaphors which can simultaneously inspire admiration and impatience (my own impression). The ending brings everything together, but Kitano makes no concessions to the Western need for positive resolution - according to the director, "... the notion of love gone wrong dates back very far in Japanese culture. 'Happy ever after' isn't part of our vocabulary." The climax of the film, in which the wandering dolls experience the defining moment of their now-devastated relationship, hammers this home in a powerful, poignant way.Kitano obviously felt frustration at the rejection of his most arty film - in the interview section for *Zatoichi*, he defiantly proclaims that he will continue to balance his crowd-pleasing cinema with more experimental fare - and to that I say bravo. Creative exploration pushes the boundaries of both the artist and the medium.*Dolls* is not for everyone - but I enjoyed it, and recommend it with reservations. Four stars.

I watched this just because Yoji created the clothing for the film. This film is fantastic the color is stunning and presents the deep understanding of this within the film. The story line is really something that if you have been in love/lust can relate to. I can watch this film over and over it's something that stays in the mind for a long time and is worth watching to see something powerful and inspire the creative mind. It's a film i recommend to y friends and am looking forward to seeing other films by the maker

Dolls is an incredibly beautiful movie. Based on Japanese folklore it's a film unlike any of the director's other work.

A haunting and beautiful film

Rather weird and hard to describe!

another very touching film by Kitano. beautiful and moving