Synopsis
Lars and the Real Girl follows Lars Lindqvist, a painfully shy and isolated young man who orders a life-size doll named Bianca and treats her as his real girlfriend. Rather than reject him, his loving small-town community plays along with the delusion under a doctor's guidance, helping Lars slowly heal from deep emotional wounds. The film is a tender, quirky exploration of loneliness, community, and the human capacity for compassion.
Did You Know?
- Ryan Gosling gained weight to appear more awkward and ordinary.
- The real doll used was an actual RealDoll product.
- Writer Nancy Oliver won a WGA Award for the screenplay.
- Filmed primarily in Ontario, Canada, doubling as a small Midwest town.
- Ryan Gosling prepared by consulting with psychologists about delusion disorders.
Iconic Quotes
- Margo: 'I waited and waited, Lars. I waited for you.'
- Gus: 'He's not crazy. He's just... he's just going through something.'
- Dr. Dagmar: 'What I believe is that it doesn't matter what I believe.'
- Lars: 'Bianca said that we all change, whether we want to or not.'
- Mrs. Gruner: 'This is what we do. We show up and we help.'