The visual style and irregular story structure of this one is almost too unique at first. It really catches you off guard and feels strange and uncomfortable for the first couple of scenes. However, once the road trip starts and it becomes a two-character journey, the awkwardness settles down and allows you to become more relaxed and involved. The three main flashback scenes feel unnecessary and distracting at first, but once we make it to the finale everything comes full circle and all of the 'unecessary' filler from before just adds more and more to the complexities of Rose's character. So the entire film is pretty much just a buildup for the finale, which can be annoying and unstructured. The final payoff also isn't nearly worth the amount of seemingly pointless distractions throughout. Also the character of J.M. was extremely pointless and annoying. His only reasoning for being in the story is to propel B.G.'s story and give her a way of getting to where she needs to go. He doesn't develop at all, and we never learn anything about his ridiculously mysterious past. It's no bother though, because I would suffer any kind of torture in order to see Rose's performance. There is honestly no way to describe how utterly perfect she is. It's the second greatest female performance I've ever seen. She handles so much inner pain, turmoil and emotions that I can't even imagine what playing the part must have done to her. She's adorable, heartbreaking, hilarious, annoying, upsetting and strong all in one singular face. And she does all of this without an actor's best weapon; their eyes. It's the stuff legends are made of, and one of the five greatest performances of all time. Anything is worth enduring to see that performance.

Ended up seeing this film(looked like it was shot on HD camera though) on Sundance Channel this morning by coincident, or otherwise I would never see it or known/heard of it for the rest of my life although I see films indiscrimatorily and very frequently.Despite the buzz it received at festivals around the world, it's just too damn hard to find films like this. Plot is rather interesting... a young Japanese guy coming to Auttraria to pick up his car. Indeed this reminds me of Jim Jarmusch's "Mystery Train", which definitely must have inspired the writers. Cinematography... from student cinematographer's point of view, was generic. It looked like just another graduate thesis from every film school around America: Tarkovsky-alikes. Personally I am tired of seeing films like that. Production designer and sound people didn't do their jobs so that the film made me think that it was a student film(, and scene at a noodle stand in Japan... too fake, man!).

I don't mind art house movies and slow moving ones, and this one certainly is, but what made the movie watchable for me was the very beautiful Rikiya Kurokawa. The honesty of his performance was worth watching. Not to mention how gorgeous he is. His love making scene with Rose Byrne's character is very sensual and hot. He is worth every minute of this picture. I look forward to seeing his do more. This was welcome introduction.

In movies - road movies especially - we are looking for change in the characters, the relationships and possibly the balance between two themes. In the Goddess we see Deidre become more whole, at a physical level by wanting and experiencing tender lovemaking. And debatably in the end as her search to confront her dad/granddad is fulfilled - death and his death in particular no longer an obsession. What of the male character though? Although very well played and amusing - what journey does he really undertake? Has he learned to drive with his eyes closed? Learned to love a being without scales?And in looking for themes that may be juxtaposed or in tension with each other - yes there is Megacity Vs Outback, there is beauty vs ugliness, black holes vs religion, responsibility for yourself vs the excuse of horrid childhood - but for me somehow they were a bit fitted in, if any one stands out - perhaps it is travelling with a purpose vs with your eyes closed, and the frightning thing of travelling with a purpose (to buy the car or kill your dad) turns out to be: What then? What do you do next? Perhaps being able to travel with your eyes closed is a better skill after all.