Something different from Hirokazu Koreeda's usual but it doesn't disappoint. Koreeda, as I've said previously, wields a gentle yet powerful touch when portraying his stories and Air Doll is just that. To transform an air doll/sex doll into a "human" by allowing her to find a heart in itself is already a very "human" story, after all, it is our heart that gives us feelings, makes us feel emotions and ultimately, symbolizes what it means to live. Air Doll doesn't try to be too hard. It doesn't wallow you into questioning your existence or does it try to be sentimental. Instead, it gives you a different view on life -- from someone who is trying to understanding it and "living" it for the first time. It is interesting to see what Nozomi discovers as she begins her life. She sees the good, the beauty, the fun but also the sadness, the ugliness and the pain -- which essentially what life is. Doona Bae is truly an absolute bae. Her eyes alone act. Her eyes alone shine. Not only does she look like a doll but she looks brings life to it, just like her character. The fact that she delivers all her lines in Japanese (despite being Korean and I don't know the extent of her fluency) impressed me. The slow yet precise delivery reflects her character's discovery with communication, language and the world. It is perfect. Air Doll has a more urban setting but doesn't mean that we get to cramped, suffocating skyscrapers. We still see small apartments and low-rise buildings which to me, always feels much more simpler and compliments the film's overall tone. Once again, the colors are nostalgic as much as they evoke a sense of calmness. It's visually colorful but not a shark vibrancy. I'm in love with the soundtrack. Just the way that the sound soothes you as you watch Nozomi discover life's meaning is so satisfying. Finally, Koreeda's attention to details never ever fails to impress me. You'd never think that simple words such as "I'm off!" would have so much significant, that a mere "birthday" would mean so much or that a "plug" would symbolize something so much. There are (side) characters that others might find unnecessary but I find their presence vital because they highlight the different ways that people live, that people are which is essential in the film's message. Once again, Hirokazu Koreeda depicts a simple story with such power.