As we sprint into a period of uncertainty around automation, robotics, and artificial intelligence, most feel a well-developed sense of unease, if not outright fear. The word pivot comes to mind in the pursuit of employment, and the perceived old way of life seems under threat. Tech powers shout that we have nothing to fear, while the public finds little relief in their words.
Into this maelstrom of conflicting worldviews and anxiety comes the film Klara and the Sun. With the intention of presenting a different view and kinder outlook on the future, humanist writer/director Taika Waititi (Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Jojo Rabbit & Thor: Ragnarok) delivers a work of vivid contrasts. It is based on the novel of the same name by the writer Kazuo Ishiguro,
It’s all set in a dystopian future where parents genetically modify their children and then homeschool them, which forces said adults to purchase robots for companionship. One such robot is Klara, played with consummate skill by Jenna Ortega, who is utterly charming in the role. She is paired up with Josie (Mia Tharia), a young woman deathly ill from the effects of the procedure they call “lifted”.
This examination of a future where humans and machines live a life of comfortable coexistence feels fresh and optimistic. However unique the film feels, it’s firmly positioned between several signposts of influence, the chief of which are the look and feel of a Tim Burton film and the futurist musings of computer scientist, author and techno-optimist Ray Kurzweil. It’s an appealing addition to Waititi’s ever-growing catalogue of work.
Rob Hudson
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