People change with time
Norms, ideals, and cultures change as time goes on, usually without people realizing it. An aspect of humanity that changes are relationships, both romantic and platonic. We are experiencing these changes now through the advent of apps like Tinder and Instagram. These tools changed relationship norms and fostered anxieties that, while always present, grew and developed thanks to the emergence of this technology. 2050** examines these changing cultures with nuance and daring, asking tough questions and giving tough answers with the confidence and poise of a fearless artist.
2050, directed by Princeton Holt, tells two stories of people whose relationships have been impacted through the presence of e-mates, or sexbots. Michael, (David Vaughn), a married video game maker who is intrigued by the idea of a relationship with an e-mate, Sophia (Stefanie Bloom), and Drew (Devin Fuller), a recently single man currently in a relationship with an e-mate, Quin (Stormi Maya). These relationships bring out the anxieties and troubles these men have in their relationships, as they try to rationalize and navigate the feelings they have with these, well, sexbots.
2050 succeeds at creating a future that’s believably right around the corner. The film’s world-building through the omnipresent delivery drones and commercials advertising the androids are effective at showcasing a recognizable future. While close up, the CGI drones don’t look perfect, the distance shots of multiple drones in the skyline are always haunting, as it highlights how this is the new norm. The cinematography, in general, does an excellent job showcasing the sexy, but detached artificiality that these characters feel, helping inform their anxiety. As such, the film always feels grounded, never too distant or out of tough.
From a story standpoint, the film takes a unique approach to a common sci-fi story trope. Human/Android relationships have been examined in films like Cherry 2000 and Her, or anime like Chobits. However, 2050 takes a unique approach to how it uses the human/android relationship to explore how humans adapt to new technology changing relationship dynamics. It’s a film in the vein of Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice or The Secretary, controversial films that challenge conventional relationships in the wake of widespread change. At times, the film’s pacing is a tad uneven, occasionally feeling like the characters are stopping to tell the themes of the story rather than showing them. Still, it’s not frequent enough to distract from the overall story. 2050 earns its controversial premise by subtly showcasing believable conflict and anxieties that were already present in the leads’ relationships, without being judgmental, instead just observant. This makes the film incredibly relatable, especially for anyone uncomfortable about the prospect of making a dating profile.
Of course, the story works thanks to the film’s performances, all of which are great. David Vaughn and Irina Abraham perform as a struggling couple naturally. Their faults are shown subtly, without either of them being villainous or over-the-top. Stormi Maya and Stefanie Bloom portray the e-mates well, acting android-like while also giving inflections to show how they can be alluring. The standout performance overall goes to Devin Fuller, whose anxiousness and desperation are performed with uncomfortable relatability, making his arc incredibly fulfilling to watch.
Overall the film is a unique and daring look at relationship anxieties in the face of new technology. By the end of the film, a lot of people will probably be uncomfortable, and that’s understandable. The conclusions Holt comes to are unusual, and it’s left me going back-and-forth about them long after walking out of the theater. But frankly, that’s part of the fun. This film didn’t push buttons for the sake of pushing buttons, it addressed something real based on real conflicts happening right now. Holt clearly enjoyed having the freedom to address unique ideas telling a story he wanted to tell, and he made the most of that freedom.
2050 is currently available on VOD
**Full Disclosure: I have a professional relationship with Hewes Pictures, who distributed this film
