Body Temperature Trailer (2011)

Takaomi Ogata’s Body Temperature is a weird surreal drama about a young man who falls in love with a life-size sex doll. Rintaro (Chavetaro Ishizaki) is a lonely guy who lives with a sex doll named Ibuki (played, at times, by Rin Sakuragi). As far as Rintaro is concerned, his relationship is completely normal. He eats with the doll, goes on dates, and enjoys numerous “intimate” moments with her. Once Ritaro decides to “cheat” with a real woman, his latex fantasy life begins to unravel.

Takaomi Ogata is a young filmmaker that likes to tackle abhorrent subject matter. His first film Endless Blue explored the subject of self-mutilation in young Japanese women. Body Temperature is a film about sex and relationships —perverted sex and dysfunctional relationships. On the surface, Body Temperature bears all the signs of a pink film. The running time is short, the plot is sex-centric, and the budget is obviously small. The presence of porn star Rin Sakuragi furthers the impression that coitus might burst out any moment. However, Body Temperature is a subtle film that walks a thin line between outrageousness and earnestness. The core relationship is inherently absurd yet the film takes the man's love for the doll seriously. There are comical moments but they are subtle. The film's commitment to its characters and the story make the creepy moments —there are a whole lot of creepy moments— that much powerful.