It's good to see that Takeshi Kitano has taken a small break from his usual Yakuza action dramas, but "Dolls" doesn't offer too much relief. Using a style that's based on the traditional Bunruku doll theatre, Kitano tells three different stories that intersect with each other. One story concerns a young man who succumbs to a marriage just to please his folks, while the woman he loves goes crazy with grief. Another tale involves a retired Yakuza who abandoned his lover many years earlier only to encounter her again. The third story involves a pop singer who meets a rather unusual fan.

Any one of these stories could be compelling material on their own, but Kitano imparts a sense of cruel fate that suggests that everything is preordained. In other words, we are all just puppets. Since "Dolls" is told in a somnambulist manner, the stories become languid and staid. "Dolls" hangs itself on its own strings. Starring Miho Kanno, Hidetoshi Nishjima and Tatsuya Mihashi. Directed and written by Takeshi Kitano. Produced by Masayuki Mori and Takio Yoshida. A Palm release. Drama. Japanese-language; subtitled. Unrated. Running time: 113 min