FANTASTIC FEST 2011: BODY TEMPERATURE Review

Ogata Takaomi's BODY TEMPERATURE introduces us to a young lonely guy, Rintaro (Ishizaki Chavetaro), who lives with a full-size sex doll that he treats as a real partner. He prepares meals, buys sexy underwear, goes bowling and of course enjoys a full physical relationship with her. What throws off the viewer initially is Ogata's decision to have pinku actress Sakuragi Rin play the supposedly latex fashioned toy and it takes a little while to realize that this character whom Rintaro takes everywhere in a wheelchair and tends to obsessively is not an invalid girlfriend, but a masturbation tool. Problems arise, however, when Rintaro visits an escort bar and meets Rin (also Sakuragi), and they quickly hit it off. Rintaro revels in the fact that his dream woman has apparently come to life, but as the relationship continues it is only a matter of time before Rin discovers Rintaro's other bedfellow. 

Ogata directs with a delicate and melancholy touch and allows plenty of time for us to contemplate Rintaro's sad and lonely existence, as well as his unhealthy idolatry of women. The film resists passing judgment on Rintaro's behaviour, refusing to condemn his actions and even lets us consider his choices as a harmless and healthy solution to his social awkwardness. From a female perspective, the film can be read as a cautionary tale to those women who crave adoration and yearn to be idolized and showered with love. It will come as no surprise to learn that Rin does discover the doll, at which point Ogata smartly reverts to using a real sex toy. This not only forces Rintaro and us to see the situation from a new perspective of lucidity, but also forces Rin to face her own motives for love and attention. 

Arriving in the wake of films like AIR DOLL and TORSO, which attack the subject more aggressively and with more prominent directorial flair, BODY TEMPERATURE may well struggle to find an audience. While it brings little to the story that has not already been covered it succeeds in creating a confused, deluded and deeply troubled individual who is not only completely likable but might actually be right in choosing latex love over real flesh and blood.