Robot Stories

I saw this movie recently at an independent theater nearby, and after the film director and star Greg Pak was there to answer questions and answers. First of all, this small, bearded, laid-back man looked nothing like he did in the movie: a muscular, completely shaven, stiff robot. This small movie is very independent, made on a very small budget, and in a couple of the four short vignettes, that shows. The most touching segment is called "Clay," in which an old man must choose between a normal death or keeping his mind alive for ever. This is the most mysterious, most touching, smartest, and works the most on the small budget and resources. The other three are decent. Pak's movie has the simple message: that the human heart will always prevail, even if Robots take over most human activites. In the first segment, a woman embraces a little plastic robot that looks like an egg with eyes drawn on by a Sharpie marker. In the second one, an old woman searches the cities for little action figures that are supposed to be extremely valuable. In the third, a robot falls in love with another robot. The fourth is Clay. This movie is far from perfect, but the quirks and touches of human life are enough to see past the imperfections and inconsistencies.

My grade: 7/10

first off, this is low budget and the filming debut of this director (or so it seems). Judge it as that... of course it's not perfect, as the people behind it are still finding out which of their ideas work on screen and which don't. This film then, for the most part works, and if you think it over afterwards it works even better.

You gotta admire the vision and care that went into each of the 4 stories that each touch on a different side of the same subject: how humans relate to machines and then relate back to real life. The story about the comatose boy his mother and his action figures was especially touching, as was the one about the older man that just wants to die, both beautiful roles by the mother and the sculptor. It seems the director is at best when making a 'small' story, he does it with a tenderness and visual power rarely seen. This leaves the actors plenty of room to present their characters in subtle ways and not having to carry the weight of the story by overacting.

The acting from the predominantly Asian cast is very good, and it's nice to see asians in a non-stereotypical role in American film. The imagery shows the low budget, but the locations are well chosen and it's well directed. The only weak point is when it gets exciting the director has trouble picking up the pace and really conveying the sense of fear and adrenaline the characters must feel. These moments are very sporadic (just one in the first story..my least favorite anyway).

This is a movie to watch, if you have an open mind and can relate to the people on screen. If you're looking for more traditional sci-fi themes.. look further. Calling this movie sci-fi just because it deals with robots is missing the point. This is more geared towards drama. And it's good.. especially for a filming debut. Definitely a director to watch for in the future. A man with vision, ideas and original stories to tell.

I remembered this film after seeing two more science fiction films recently, NIGHTINGALE IN A MUSIC BOX and PRIMER. All three are extremely low budget meditations on the relationship between technology and human identity. This one is the hardest to comment on, because it's a collection of short stories that differ somewhat in quality; but on the whole, ROBOT STORIES deserves its place with the other two as part of a real renaissance in American independent "science fiction" film-making.

I put science fiction in quotes, because these films are more more about the human soul and if there can even be such a thing in this brave new world we live in, than they are about the actual new forms technology might take, though PRIMER is probably the best on little science details, if you like that.

To anyone reading this comment, I'd suggest you try to see all three. They represent an exciting movement in American independent movies.

Great ideas for making us think about our times are the triumph of this picture. Made of four short stories, it offers us projections, realities, and premonitions. Each story ends up being very significant of some spectres of the man / machine interdependence. Slowly paced, shot on video, it looks like it's not very exciting, but still has a lot to take from it, with some patience. The two initial stories, the first about a couple that have to adopt a furby-like machine to prove that they are able to adopt a real baby, the second about a mother who starts completing his comatose son's toy robot collection, are the weakest. The two final stories (one about an android who develops human feelings and the other about a man dying in a world where you no longer die, but instead you're uploaded), are the strongest, even if at a minimal level. So, the real achievements of "Robot Stories" are discrete, and very minimal. But it still pays off.

Science Fiction is a great device for writing about social politics, and these four short films do this well in some way or another.

The first story is the sharpest, and questions how we value motherhood against normal human values. The serious point, that babies are truly alien to your life, is well made.

The second film slighly connects love of science fiction with withdrawl from real life. And this film was in a Sci-Fi festival!

The third film is light relief, but does explore alienation and fear in a simple way.

The last film is in someways the most traditional, in that it looks at the ultimate mechanization of human life.

All these stories are in turn funny, sexy and intelligent - I wouldn't say that any were original, well produced or deep. A good film for a new director.