Nancy Oliver is the is the genius behind Lars and the Real Girl(2007), the playwright and screenwriter best known for the TV series Six Feet Under.
Lars is a quirky, social misfit who develops a romantic relationship with Bianca, a real life doll. At first I thought this American Canadian drama- comedy would delve into the bizarre and I voiced some reluctance to watch it. But hello, hello…..Lars and the Real Girl is the real deal.
It is a film about grace, acceptance and community. Lars (played by Ryan Gosling) finds his brother, sister in law, work colleagues, church folk and the like all work hard to accept Bianca, for his sake. And in accepting and loving the difficult and uncomfortable Lars, the community is transformed.
It is a testimony of grace. By loving Bianca the people are demonstrating love for Lars. And in doing so they find themselves changed, forever. In the Christian faith Grace is often described as God’s love and Christ’s expense. We get love when we don’t deserve it.
Phillip Yancey in his book What’s So Amazing about Grace says:
One who has been touched by grace will no longer look on those who stray as “those evil people” or “those poor people who need our help.” Nor must we search for signs of “loveworthiness.” Grace teaches us that God loves because of who God is, not because of who we are.
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