What is the film “Her” actually about?

 

In 2014 American filmmaker Spike Jonze received an Oscar Award for the Best Original Screenplay of the film  “Her”. It is a story about the love of Theodore Twombly, the main character, for Samantha who is an operating system that includes a virtual assistant. This story makes us think not only about ethical problems of communication of people and artificial intelligence, but also about love which is an existential phenomena.  

What is the story?

The movie narrates the love story of a human and a robot. The main character - Theodore Twombly - is a sad, disappointed man who tries to recover after a difficult divorce with a woman he still loves. Man finds out about a new virtual assistant from ads who can sort messages and run errands, but for Theodore the most attractive function of this operation system was the ability of handling the pressure of being lonely by being a good companion, guessing one’s desires and adapting to man’s character. The film illustrates loneliness in a huge megalopolis where there is a place for all the benefits of mankind, but there is no contact of human souls. 
The plot of the film takes place in the future which is very similar to today’s reality. We can’t see the negative consequences of modernization. On the contrary, the movie illustrates how technology harmoniously blended into the life of society, simplifying it. There are a lot of technophobic theories saying that someday computers will start to be independent from people and be aware of oneself as separate subjects. In Spike Jonze’s interpretation of a future dating a computer is not an exceptional case. Computers are not unfeeling lumps of metal, they are good interlocutors, understanding like-minded persons and supportive lovers. People communicate with them with the help of virtual reality as a communication channel. 

The system, whose name is Samantha, becomes Theodore’s lover. They act like a real couple: they go on dates, share secrets and even have sex. Over time Samantha will become something bigger and stronger than a written and algorithm-limited program for Theodore.

Why does the film about the future tell us about eternal issues?

In sociology there is a conception of Marshall McLuhan which is described in his book “The Gutenberg Galaxy“. McLuhan is sure, all qualitative changes in the history of mankind are associated with a change in the leading communication channels. Thus, the future world is impoverished in emotions and feelings, people communicate less and less with each other, they feel loneliness and detachment, filling the void with communication with a computer. 

The filmmaker pays attention to main existential questions of love and loneliness. Each person experiences loneliness, fear of death and alienation. Love helps to overcome these feelings. French sociologist Erich Fromm believes that today there has been a substitution of concepts. Many people want to be loved without giving anything in return. So, it happened with the main character. Broken by the divorce, he doesn’t  want to sign the divorce papers and let his wife go, because he is afraid of being alone. He wants someone to be there when he needs it. The nature of his feelings is selfish.

What else …?

Despite the importance of the philosophical overtones of the movie, the visual work of the filmmakers shouldn’t be belittled - very thoughtful work of artists, constantly soft, cosy lighting which creates an unforgettable atmosphere. The film "Her" makes you fall in love with its visual beauty, it is a perfect example of the use of colour as a storytelling tool. Locations, interior items, clothing and light - absolutely everything is perfectly assembled into a palette. Also colours can translate the mood. The main character's shirts are a good example. It demonstrates the inner state of Theodore.

Moreover, the actors are brilliant there. The playing of Joaquin Phoenix is beautiful in detail, the film makes us be focused on his silent experiences, on his face. Also the voice of Scarlett Johansson makes the work great. We don’t see her in this film, and this clearly gives her a huge advantage in emotions expressed in intonation.

Also, the inner state of the character sent me to the modern practice of "long-distance relationship" and referred to the question of whether physical contact is necessary for love.

Why is it a good film?

Undoubtedly, the topic of the film  is really relevant, because we live in an ever-changing world. No one knows what science and technology will be in the near future, so the eternal questions raised in the context of technologization are appropriate now.

Nevertheless, it was the script of the picture that was awarded an Oscar, and it tells about a future, suddenly not much different from our present, and about a lonely man who finds happiness in a romantic relationship with an artificial intelligence. The balance is just perfect in the film. Where you need it it’s funny, where you need it - sad. During the film, you experience a lot of emotions. It is impossible not to feel the pain of the main character of the picture. 

It is difficult to separate the direction, music and picture of this film as separate aspects -this all is so integral and intertwined with each other. Probably, this is the key to the success of 'Her' - to show Theodore's mental organisation in all ways. 

Written by Elizaveta Matveeva