ARCHIVE
US/UK, 2020, 109 minutes, Colour.
Theo James, Stacy Martin, Rhona Mitra, Peter Fernando, Lia Williams, Toby Jones, Richard Glover, Hans Peterson.
Directed by Gavin Rothery.
Archive will remind some audiences of other science fiction films focusing on women, Mac and and Her.
The setting is 2038, a remote elaborate plant in the wintry forest of Japan. The scientist in charge, played by Theo James, has been experimenting with robotics, even creating to robots who can speak and work in the laboratory (the robots becoming more personalised with their development). However, the main mission is to draw on archives of memory which can be transferred then to a robot – in this case the scientist’s wife.
There are mysterious interests, the Dir of the robotics project and her threats, visits from inspectors and their armed robots, a contact who is in control of risks.
The film progresses as might be expected, the scientist alone, the visits, the threats? His dealings with the two robots – the second one becoming rather jealous of his attention to the robot of his wife? His communication with his wife, the development of the robot – and the many memories of her, especially a car crash.
There is a completely unexpected twist in the last minute – not particularly necessary for the development of the plot but having the effect of completely altering audience perspective on what they have been watching.
- Science-fiction? Science fantasy? 2038?
- The technology background, robotics, the archives of human consciousness, transferral to robotics?
- The site of the laboratory, snowy forest, the chasm and the bridge, the waterfall in the river? Japan? The interiors of the laboratory, vast and technological? The flashbacks, ordinary life, the car and the crash? The musical score?
- The credibility of the premise? Death, life after death, the retaining memories, contact with the memories, voices, consciousness? Their being transferred?
- George, the introduction, running, in the laboratories, with the robots, the first, primitive, no arms, yet a consciousness, large and cumbersome? The second, voice, capacity for fulfilling orders, voice, consciousness, work in the laboratories, watching the cartoons, the niche for both robots? Work, collaboration, discussions with George? Going out into the winter? Some jealousies with the Jules robot? Touches of sabotage, confronted, going out to the river, drowning?
- George and his mission, the secrecy, the contacts with Simone, her being in charge, threats? The visit by Sinclair and Melvin? Their armed robots? The purpose of visit? Sabotage? George and his later visit with the authority and the discussion about risks? The new equipment? Physical communication, communication by screen?
- George, his mission, his wife, memories of the past, the marriage, discussions in the car, going to Japan, the crash? The archive memories? His reconstructing the robot in her image, her consciousness, growing awareness, pain and suffering, reactions, growth, memories, her voice, movement? The dangers, the final confrontation, the electric links, her survival?
- George, his obsession, daily life, routines, the working of the laboratories?
- The twist at the end – unforeseen? Upending the synopsis? Credibility? For the drama, needed or not?
