Lars and the Real Girl

One of the sweetest, most tender movies I've seen in the last few years, is this wonderful movie, "Lars and the Real Girl".  It's about a young man named Lars, who is shall we say, socially challenged.  It's so bad that he's barely able to carry on a conversation with anyone.  One day he orders an anatomically correct doll (yes, it's a sex doll), and so begins the delusion that the doll is his new girlfriend Bianca.

Don't let the above scenario fool you into thinking this is going to be anything inappropriate.  It is in fact a thoroughly decent film.  It's a movie about how to embrace and love someone in spite of their faults and challenges, and how through love and acceptance from his family and community, Lars is eventually able to come out of his shell.

The movie is full of great performances, most notably that of Ryan Gosling as Lars.  I can't recommend this movie highly enough.

Mazel Tov

I'm definitely a fan of foreign films, and don't mind subtitles.  Once you get used to them, you don't really notice them.  One of the recommendations from Netflix was an unheralded Israeli film, in Hebrew, called "Ushpizin".  It sounded interesting, and I finally popped it in to watch the other night.  I have to say, it was a gem.  Basically, it was about the trials of a married Hasidic couple and their efforts to live a life of faith.  

The premise is that just as they're about to give in to their challenges, they decide to give prayer one more try.  They are pretty immediately blessed, but shortly after, receive an even bigger trial.  And it shows their attempts to remain even more faithful despite it, to not blow it, and to hope for the best.  Ultimately, their efforts are rewarded with the desire of their hearts.

I think this movie came at the right time for me, when I needed that message in my own life.  So to that, I say thanks, and Mazel Tov!