This screening features Steven Spielberg's 'A.I. Artificial Intelligence,' a dystopian film exploring a future where robots are to replace humans. The story follows David, an AI boy programmed to love, adopted by a couple whose own son is critically ill.
Steven Spielberg's 'A.I. Artificial Intelligence,' co-developed with Stanley Kubrick, plunges into a dystopian future where humanity grapples with replacement by advanced robots amidst ecological upheaval. Set in a world where polar icecaps have melted and cities like Manhattan are submerged, the film centers on David, a sophisticated AI child. Programmed with the capacity for unconditional love, David is adopted by the Swinton family to fill the void left by their ill son, Martin. The narrative explores themes of artificiality, love, and the essence of humanity as David navigates his complex existence and longing for maternal affection.
The screening is presented on a 35mm print from the Eye collection, emphasizing its cinematic heritage. The event is further contextualized by a lecture from Dan Hassler-Forest, reflecting on the cultural imagination surrounding artificial intelligence in 2001 and its continued relevance. This screening is part of the '2001' program, a larger retrospective celebrating films released in that significant year, alongside other related screenings like 'Donnie Darko,' 'Pulse,' and 'Spirited Away.'