Lars and the Real Girl 2007

Lars Lindstrom resides in a small room adjacent to the garage of the house that he and his brother, Gus, inherited from their father. Despite the warm intentions of his pregnant sister-in-law, Karin, who often invites him for family meals, Lars consistently declines. When he does join them, conversations are typically awkward, and he feels an overwhelming urge to leave swiftly. This young man struggles deeply with forging connections, whether with family, co-workers, or fellow church-goers.

One day, Lars joyfully announces to Gus and Karin that he has made a new friend he met online—a wheelchair-bound missionary named Bianca, who hails from Brazilian and Danish descent. To their shock, they discover this “visitor” is, in fact, a lifelike doll Lars ordered from an adult website. Concerned for his mental well-being, they persuade Lars to consult with Dagmar, the family doctor and psychologist. During the appointment, Dagmar humorously diagnoses Bianca with low blood pressure and emphasizes the necessity of weekly therapy sessions, urging Gus and Karin to treat Bianca as a real woman to aid in Lars’ therapy.

As time passes, Lars begins to introduce Bianca as his girlfriend to friends and fellow townsfolk. The community, aware of the peculiar situation, embraces Bianca as though she were alive. She soon becomes involved in various volunteer efforts, receives a makeover from a local beautician, and even takes up modeling at a nearby clothing store. This acceptance allows Lars to engage more with those around him, igniting an interest in his colleague, Margo. After Margo reveals her recent breakup, Lars agrees to go bowling while Bianca attends a school board meeting. They enjoy the outing, yet Lars is adamant about his devotion, assuring Margo that he could never cheat on Bianca. Margo sweetly replies that she would never expect that from him, expressing her hope to find a man as faithful one day.

The tranquility of Lars’s life comes to a halt when he finds Bianca unresponsive one morning, leading to an emergency ambulance ride. As her condition worsens, he decides that Bianca wishes to be brought home. The news of her ailment reverberates throughout the town, prompting everyone whose life she touched to bring flowers and food to the Lindstrom household. Gus and Karin suggest taking Lars and Bianca on an outing to the lake. While hiking, Lars shares a kiss with Bianca—a pivotal moment—just before her passing.

Bianca receives a heartfelt funeral attended by the entire community. After her burial, Lars and Margo linger by the graveside, both having confronted their past traumas. Finally ready to accept adult responsibilities, Lars, now filled with newfound self-confidence, invites Margo for a walk, which she happily accepts, signaling a promising new chapter in his life.