I AM MOTHER
Australia/US, 2019, minutes, Colour.
Clara Rugaard, Hilary Swank, Luke Haker, Voice of Rose Byrne.
Directed by Grant Sputore.
Once more we are in a post-apocalyptic world. All that is left seems to be devastation, and an atmosphere that is poisonous. But, especially, the humans have disappeared and control is in the hands of robots. It is artificial intelligence which rules the small and isolated worlds.
This is an Australian production, in collaboration with the United States. It makes an impact as an international production.
The initial focus is on a robot, created effectively by Wetta effects, quite detailed in its complex construction and movements (and inhabited by an actor/technician).
But all is not lost for the humans. The robot is in a laboratory, controlling a human baby, caring for it, training it, in fact, doing the work of the mother. And, as the child grows, she is called Daughter, the robot is Mother.
Mother continues to be protective, careful to develop the young girl as she grows, educating her very effectively (even appreciating language and human behaviour by watching old television shows. As she grows, Daughter is played by Clara Rugaard. The voice of mother is provided by Rose Byrne.
Some, one might ask, what is the future for the human race? Are there many other Mothers? Anymore Daughters or Sons? Will the time come when they will meet, achieve the growth and intelligence expected by the robots? Will there eventually be human communities?
As might be expected, there will be something sinister to disturb the relationship between Mother and Daughter. There is another creature, played by Hilary Swank, who disturbs the relationship, creates doubts, threatens what is peace in highly technical equivalent of a Garden of Eden, where Daughter can act as mother for a human baby.
One for those who enjoy post-apocalyptic stories, stories of artificial intelligence, stories of the roles of humans in this kind of future.
1. A post-apocalyptic story? The effect on earth? The human race? The developments of robotics?
2. The future, survival, robotics and artificial intelligence, control? The restoration of humans – slow process?
3. The laboratory, the machines, the look of the robots, their structure, action, engineering? Mother’s voice? Mother in action? The musical score, the use of the song, Baby of Mine from Dumbo?
4. Daughter, produced in the laboratory, the role of Mother, human? Mother and care? The development of the child? Mother and her learning mothering?
5. Daughter growing, the developing trust, process of learning, relationships? Yet isolated in the laboratory? Her life and lifestyle, education, past television shows? The effect? Age, the growing curiosity?
6. Mother, seemingly ingenuous, cautioning Daughter? Not to get contaminated? Means of prevention, control? His Daughter wanting to explore?
7. Daughter hearing sounds, the search, deceiving Mother, the discovering of the other woman, taking risks?
8. The rescue, the personality of the woman? The effect on daughter? Mother’s threats? Another human, the weapon, her possessiveness about it?
9. Mother, the reaction, helping in the rescue, taking the rifle? The woman’s injuries, care?
10. The bond between daughter and the woman, Daughter being wary, building up to conflict?
11. Daughter’s dilemma, association with the woman, of the human? Mother and warnings, prevention? The irony of Mother having to admit that there were other humans?
12. Mother offering Daughter and option, to be a mother herself, to abandon the strange woman?
13. The birth of the other child, Daughter and her becoming mother? The future – and possibilities of union between other humans? Or Daughter keeping her child in isolation?
