Lars and the Real Girl

Javaflix                                                                                                             5.10.08

Lars and the Real Girl                                                                          Discussion Guide 

GENERAL

What did you think? How did it make you feel?  

How would you describe this film to someone who has never seen it? 

What do you think the title means? Who is the real girl? 

SCENES

What were you favorite scenes?

What do you think the most important scene of the film was? What made it so powerful? Describe why you think it was important? 

What did you think of the ending?

What happens next?

First meeting Bianca

Bianca at the Party

“We do it for you”

Baptism (was it a baptism?)

First Kiss? (was it their first kiss?)  How did it make you feel?

What makes a man scene 
 

CHARACTERS

How did you feel about Lars?

How did you feel about the characters? Who did you like? Who didn't you like? Why?

Who did you identify with the most?

If you could have coffee with one of the characters, who would it be and why? What would you ask them?

How would you react to Lars if you were his brother/sister/friend?

 

THEMES

Delusions/Healing

Did you ever come to a point while watching the movie where you wanted to shout at Lars “Snap out of it!”? 

Were there times where you weren't sure whether to laugh or not? 

How does healing happen for Lars? For you? 

Why is Lars crying? (explore this) 

Is our tendency to 'fix' someone's delusion or ideas? Is that always necessary? 

How do we sometimes 'trick' ourselves into thinking a certain way to make ourselves feel better? 

Why did his demeanor change as soon as Bianca arrived? 

Did you cry when Bianca was dying? Why or why not? 

Tell me about Lars' character. What is going on? Who is he? What is he doing?  (hiding, uncomfortable around people, broken, hurting, lonely, delusional) 

Why does it physically hurt him when he is affectionately touched? 

Is Bianca a Christ figure? (her death brings lars life)  J 

What do you think his relationship was like with his father? How has pain entered into his life? Guilt? 

Love one another

How did you know that you were a man/woman? 

“She serves as a catalyst that allows him to receive the love of all those around him” (review)

Do you have trouble receiving love?  How do you do it? Do you feel worthy of love? 

“that is why God made her, to help people”. Why are we made? Is part of our purpose to help others? 

“We never need to ask, Lord, what should I do? He has already told us: love one another. Love is God in action.”  Do you agree? How does this make you feel? What does it make you think about?

How far would you go to include someone who is left out? 
 
 

Community/Church

What was the benefit of the town's choice? What was the harm? 

What did you think of the churches reaction? (good example of church accepting anyone, even people who are very different) 

Have you had experiences at a church of not being accepted for some reason? 

Strange story

 “suspension of disbelief is essential” Is it more helpful to view this story as a fairy tale? Why is it so unrealistic? 

Why does he make the choices he makes? Having her die? Why invent her in the first place? Why a doll?  

What is the role of Bianca in Lars' life? In the life of the town? 

How did you feel when he kissed her? 

How does our imagination help us deal with reality? How does it distract us from reality? How can we know the difference? 

Have you ever seen weird things/people that raised your eyebrows? Any examples? Is our tendency to judge? 

Did you get emotionally invested or was it just silly to you?