Air Doll

I feel like I might have read too much into it, but apart from the obvious criticism of the objectification of women, there’s also the PTSD, and therefore the dissociation, that Nozomi (and the other “air dolls”) experiences during or after sexual intercourse. Her relationship with Shinichi was clearly one with a narcissistic abuser: he makes her believe he is like her in order to gain her trust, then repeatedly hurts and “heals” her so he can position himself as both her savior and her only hope. There’s also the broader idea that people living in big cities are hollow because of their fast-paced lives, never having the time to truly enjoy anything despite the beauty of the world around them:  a beauty that is sometimes perceived only through violence, as shown in the final shot. The film also suggests that many people, if not everyone, feel empty for countless different reasons. As usual with Kore-eda, hope is never sacrificed, and despite everything being awful and hollow, he still manages to make us believe that there is beauty somewhere in this world. Also, more of a stretch but Nozomi’s general difficulty understanding social cues also made me think of a neurodivergent woman, some parts felt deeply personal too, which really made me connect to the character. Bae Doo-na’s performance is also truly phenomenal. A truly misunderstood masterpiece.