Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on July 2013

Iconoclastic director Takashi Ishii has been making flicks that provoke the public and present a fantastical, erotic, violent and sometimes nightmarish vision since the early ’90s. His Gonin, Kuro no Tenshi (Black Angel) and Hana to Hebi (Flower and Snake) series have all pretty much followed this pattern. One thing you could say about him is that he is always original—though it’s hard to claim that here.

Figyua na Anata, though very different in tone, is a similar story to Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Kuki Ningyo (Air Doll), released in 2009. Whipping boy Uchiyama (Tasuku Emoto) is regularly verbally abused at his company until he is fired one day. Wandering home he stumbles into an abandoned building where he discovers mannequins. At the same time, thugs off someone in the building and think Uchiyama is a witness. As he is beaten and prepares for death a mysterious female saves him. After the incident a mannequin (Kokone Sasaki) magically comes to life and becomes his dream woman. Are the two one and the same?

This erotic thriller smacks a little too strongly of male fantasy and objectification, though it might thrill 15 year-old boys. (112 min)