Streaming
Of machines and people: “The Electric State” at Netflix
Artificial intelligence is currently on everyone’s lips. In the film “The Electric State”, the independence of the robots causes problems as early as the 1990s. Or is it man?
The fear that machines hike humanity has been a popular film motif for almost 100 years. As early as 1927 in Fritz Lang’s “Metropolis”, a machine man appeared. Films such as “Blade Runner”, “Terminator”, “I, Robot” or the unfortunately hardly noticed science fiction drama “The Creator” deal with possible risks of artificial intelligence. Due to the rapid technological developments – keyword: artificial intelligence – the topic is more current than ever.
An alternative version of the 1990s
In contrast to most other films, the Netflix production “The Electric State” (start: March 14), which is based on Simon Stålenhag’s graphic novel of the same name, does not play in the future, but in the past. “We created an alternative version of the 90s in this film,” explains Chris Pratt (“Avengers: Endgame”), who plays the leading role in addition to Millie Bobby Brown (“Stranger”), in the interview of the German Press Agency. “But for everyone who has witnessed this time, it really feels nostalgic.”
In this fictional past, cute robots reject the uprising against people. Disney is to blame for everything in this story. His robots, which were once developed for his Disneyland, have proven to be so useful that they are used in all areas of life. But they develop consciousness and feelings and demand rights for robots. This leads to the war that people win.
A habitat only for robots
Most robots are then banished to a restricted area – the dystopian “Electric State”. The world is also a dark place in the living space of people. There are traces of war everywhere, the remains are lying around. Most of the time people spend on their head with a so -called neurocaster. With this device, which looks like a helmet, they escape into a virtual reality and neglect real life.
“We are worried about how technology is changing the world,” says Joe Russo, who, as usual, led his brother Anthony direction. “The film deals with these topics without demonizing technology – after all, it brings us many advantages. But it also asks some critical questions.” However, the film never achieves the complexity of the literary template.
Adventurous trip through a dystopian America
Michelle (Millie Bobby Brown) is an outsider who refuses to the virtual world. After losing her family in a car accident, she lives with a care father who rarely decreases his neurocaster. One day Michelle is surprised by a small, friendly robot called Cosmo at home. Cosmo knows things that only Michelle brother can know. The robot asks you to accompany him to the restricted area.
Together with the eccentric smuggler Keats (Chris Pratt with a bad hairstyle) and his versatile robot friend, they embark on a dangerous trip through a destroyed America. They encounter malignant and friendly machines and findings on how and why modern technology fuels the decline of society – and what responsibility people bear for it.
The colorful robots are the stars
In other roles, Stanley Tucci, Giancarlo Esposito and Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan (“Everything Everywhere All At Once”) play). But the stars of the film are the imaginative robots that not only come from the computer, but also encouraged real people with movements in order to make the work easier for the actors. “Most of the time we had someone with whom we played,” says Pratt, “so that we could create real human, emotional moments while shooting.”
Visually and atmospherically, the film is reminiscent of the popcorn cinema of the 1980s. “We were very inspired by these films,” emphasizes Anthony Russo in the dpa interview. “We love it when large, complex science fiction topics are combined with a very personal, emotional character story.” They would also have influenced Pixar’s animated films, says Russo.
“The Electric State” is full of nostalgic allusions of toys to pophits from the 80s and 90s to the original robots. The successful film music by old master Alan Silvestri (“Back to the future”) also contributes to the nostalgic atmosphere. This makes the science fiction film, even though it is a bit superficial and cliché, an entertaining streaming pleasure.
dpa
Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
