The idea that there are only so many stories to tell is flawed and incorrect. The fact is that as technology changes the human experience, so does it change the types of films being made about it. Humans relationship with technology, particularly A.I., is ripe subject matter for exploration in many productions these days. The multiple award–winning Farewell (World Film Festival in Cannes) is a film which delves into the possibilities with a focus on emotions rather than the circuitry. Farewell came from the mind of producer, writer, director and editor Jiayu Liu who recognized A.I.’s eventual realization of mortality as inevitable. She describes the film’s immense appeal stating, “I believe the attraction lies in its sci-fi backdrop, which allows viewers to escape from real life and enjoy the beauty of imagination. However, once you start appreciating it, you’ll feel its humanistic core: everyone faces loss, and everyone has moments when they must say goodbye to the things or people they love the most. How to deal with these moments—whether to avoid them or to cherish them even more intensely—is a question everyone has pondered. I think it’s this humanistic essence in this story that resonates with the audience.”
In the first moments of Farewell we are introduced to a funeral agent named Quintin. Quintin is assisting a young woman named Claire who is undertaking the difficult and yet responsible arrangements for her own funeral. Their meeting is interrupted by a visibly upset Jeffery who doesn’t want Claire to continue with the arrangements. What follows is a series of revelations that Claire is in fact a robot who should have been destroyed long ago due to government regulations. Through the experiences of Jeffrey and Claire, the viewer is asked to consider what the future of the connection between humans and technology will be and how both will alter their sense of consciousness and connection because of this union. There’s a great deal of relevance to where the world is headed within Farewell but at its core, this is a story about emotions as old as history itself. This presentation makes the story work on many layers. Jiayu Liu has crafted a story which resonates and exists on multiple intellectual and emotional planes. Maybe not since the last scenes of Ridley Scott’s original Bladerunner (1982) has this concept been so captivating and moving; a masterful feat on the part of Jiayu.
Although this film shoves us into considering what truly defines awareness, emotion, and the state of “being alive”, Jiayu taken numerous opportunities to remind us of the delineations. At the beginning of the film, regardless of the shot, Quintin and Lynn never appeared in the same frame, reflecting Quintin’s rejection of beautiful things. By the end of the story, they are always framed together, symbolizing the change in Quintin’s heart. The color scheme for Claire’s home is warm and inviting; a stark contrast to the cold tones of Quintin’s residence. When the truth is finally revealed that Claire is in fact a robot, the use of an unsteady handheld camera for this scene offers a nonverbal insight into the shock that Quintin experiences. Perhaps the most endearing and “human” moment is a scene near the end of the film in which Quintin can be seen through Lynn’s eyes, accompanied by the sound effect of a camera shutter as she blinks, suggesting that Lynn, as a robot, is trying to record this moment.
Ms. Liu admits that she’s been overwhelmed by the intense reaction of so many attendees at screenings of Farewell who have shared how touched they are by this film. She remarks, “I was hoping that the audience would understand the real intent of the story is to perceive how loss makes us feel, regardless of who we are. It’s always hard to say goodbye to someone you love, but life forces us to do so; nothing can last forever.” Farewell is a powerful film and a profound experience.
Writer : Basil Thomson
Punit