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Only if you can separate the problematic man from the problematic role
Doll House is one of those films that I wish I’d checked the cast list more thoroughly before watching. Baron Geisler gave a strong performance as a drug addict and alcoholic. Unfortunately, his real life is even more problematic than a burnt-out singer looking to connect with a child he’d never met.
Singer Rustin burns through each day performing with his band, hanging out at the beach with his buddies, and snorting cocaine. When a friend dies, he wanders around ending up in Rotterdam, the place where he’d left the love of his life. Turns out his ex-wife has died and his eight-year-old daughter is being raised by people who care deeply for her. He ingratiates himself and talks Uncle Bok into letting him babysit.
The film asks the viewer to take a lot of leaps over illogical ravines. Let’s see, I meet a guy dressed in leather stinking of soured booze and old cigarette smoke and since he’s from my homeland, I trust him with a child I adore. Not a chance in hell. Aside from that egregious plot setup, at least the film didn’t shy away from Rustin’s drinking and drug addiction. Yumi’s guardians were right to protect her from him once they realized who he was. Though director Mancheta laid on the father-daughter connection thick with numerous scenes of laughing in the park and rain. Which were ruined by a scene of Rustin putting Yumi in a barrel of cold water to teach her to sing.
Doll House attempted to walk the line between reality and familial fantasy, with a rough landing in reality dusted by a smidgen of hope. I wish I could separate an actor’s personal life from their role, but now the only thing I can think is that they should never have let Geisler near a child actor, much less a female one. I tried to rate it as fairly as possible, but I’m not sure I succeeded.
11 August 2026
Problematic behavior: Geisler’s had at least 4 sexual harassment/assault cases. Groping women’s breasts and performing lude acts in front of them. Two children on the television show Noah were said to have been traumatized by his behavior. That’s not including the car accidents and brawls. But by all means, give men lots of chances that women will never have. :/
Singer Rustin burns through each day performing with his band, hanging out at the beach with his buddies, and snorting cocaine. When a friend dies, he wanders around ending up in Rotterdam, the place where he’d left the love of his life. Turns out his ex-wife has died and his eight-year-old daughter is being raised by people who care deeply for her. He ingratiates himself and talks Uncle Bok into letting him babysit.
The film asks the viewer to take a lot of leaps over illogical ravines. Let’s see, I meet a guy dressed in leather stinking of soured booze and old cigarette smoke and since he’s from my homeland, I trust him with a child I adore. Not a chance in hell. Aside from that egregious plot setup, at least the film didn’t shy away from Rustin’s drinking and drug addiction. Yumi’s guardians were right to protect her from him once they realized who he was. Though director Mancheta laid on the father-daughter connection thick with numerous scenes of laughing in the park and rain. Which were ruined by a scene of Rustin putting Yumi in a barrel of cold water to teach her to sing.
Doll House attempted to walk the line between reality and familial fantasy, with a rough landing in reality dusted by a smidgen of hope. I wish I could separate an actor’s personal life from their role, but now the only thing I can think is that they should never have let Geisler near a child actor, much less a female one. I tried to rate it as fairly as possible, but I’m not sure I succeeded.
11 August 2026
Problematic behavior: Geisler’s had at least 4 sexual harassment/assault cases. Groping women’s breasts and performing lude acts in front of them. Two children on the television show Noah were said to have been traumatized by his behavior. That’s not including the car accidents and brawls. But by all means, give men lots of chances that women will never have. :/
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