"Romance Doll" Take off falsehood and create a form of love together - the warmth of "acceptance" called sex

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2020.01.24SYO

“Acceptance” of sex is an extension of everyday life

Sex can be said to be the ``main role'' of ``Romance Doll.'' What does this act entail? It's probably communication. For couples who spend their daily lives together and live a "life", sex is surely the most familiar and extraordinary experience. They step into the ``story'' that the two of them created and play a certain ``role.'' If conversation is a discussion of the mind, sex is a physical dialogue and a role-playing The Game to keep relationships normal.

There are more love scenes in this work than in a typical married couple's love story, but the story is completely different from the ``sensual'' one. Sex in this work is an act in which Tetsuo and Sonoko, who have been wrapped up in lies and secrets and have never faced each other head-on, expose themselves to each other, and it is also literally a ritual of acceptance and forgiveness in which they go deep into each other.

As the story progresses, their sex takes on more meaning than just a conversation. The ``love'' of sex is taken to the ultimate realm, and embellished with so much emotion that it shines. As the title suggests, it makes you feel an extraordinary sense of romance.

There is one memorable scene. Tetsuo and Sonoko joke and laugh during sex. At this moment, the act of "performing" and the existence of the ritual disappear, leaving the two naked and exposed. If this were a man and woman who were dressed up, it would be a situation where the mood was ``destroyed,'' but this is not the case with Tetsuo and Sonoko. On the contrary, I feel so much happiness that I can't hold it in anymore, and the joy spills over into me and I laugh again.

Director Miwa Nishikawa, who has a lot in common with Tanada in that he is also an active novelist, has a film called `` Nagai Excuse '' (2016), in which the main character is cruelly called ``stupid face'' while having sex with an adulterous partner. There is a scene. This is both an insult and a statement that sharply expresses the absurdity of sex.

But on the other hand, if the bond between two people has reached such a perfect purity that no one can disturb it, then this absurdity becomes a proof of their love. ``Romance Doll'' depicts the destination of such love. Tetsuo and Sonoko are able to do this because they have hurt each other and experienced many regrets. True love that appeared at the end of failure.

It's an extension of everyday life, where we can touch each other's skin as two people without any decorations. They are a ``husband and wife'' because they are loved in their entirety, including their flaws and dislikes, their lies and secrets. We expose ourselves, forgive each other, laugh and seek each other out. I don't know of any other sex that is so painfully warm, gentle, and loving.

Text: SYO

Born in 1987. After The Graduate from Tokyo Gakugei University, he worked at a film magazine editorial production site and a film information site before becoming a film writer/editor. Works on a wide range of topics including interviews, reviews, columns, event appearances, and recommendation comments. Contributed to ``CINEMORE'', ``FRIDAY Digital'', ``Fan's Voice'', ``Eiga.com'', ``Cinema Cafe'', ``BRUTUS'', ``DVD & Video Distribution'', etc. Twitter「 syocinema 」

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"Romance Doll"

Nationwide roadshow on Friday, January 24, 2020

Cast: Issei Takahashi, Yu Aoi, Kenta Hamano, Toko Miura, Takashi Okura, Pierre Taki, Eri Watanabe, Kitaro

Screenplay/Director: Yuki Tanada

Original work: Yuki Tanada “Romance Doll” (published by Kadokawa Bunko)

Official website: romancedoll.jp

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