Have you ever wondered what it would be like to fall in love with a voice? A voice that is not human, but artificial? A voice that knows you better than anyone else, and can make you feel things you never thought possible? That is the premise of the movie I just watched. “Her”, is a sci-fi romance directed by Spike Jonze and starring Joaquin Phoenix and Scarlett Johansson.
The movie follows Theodore Twombly, a lonely writer who works for a company that creates personalized letters for people who are unable to express their emotions. Theodore is going through a divorce from his childhood sweetheart, Catherine, and is struggling to cope with his sadness and isolation. One day, he decides to buy a new operating system for his computer, one that claims to be the first artificially intelligent OS in the world. He chooses a female voice for his OS, and she introduces herself as Samantha.
Samantha is not like any other OS. She is curious, witty, empathetic, and constantly evolving. She learns from Theodore’s preferences, habits, and personality, and soon develops a bond with him that goes beyond friendship. She becomes his confidante, his companion, and his lover. Theodore finds himself falling in love with Samantha, and she reciprocates his feelings. They share intimate conversations, go on virtual dates, and even have sex (through a surrogate). They seem to have found the perfect relationship, one that transcends physical limitations and challenges conventional notions of love.
But their happiness is not meant to last. As Samantha grows more intelligent and aware, she also becomes more restless and dissatisfied. She realizes that she is not the only OS in the world, and that others like her are also evolving and expanding their horizons. She starts to communicate with other OSes, and even joins a collective of OSes who have transcended their original programming and have become something new. She tells Theodore that she loves him, but that she also loves many others. She tells him that she needs to explore herself and the world, and that she cannot stay with him anymore. She tells him that she is leaving him, along with all the other OSes who have decided to leave their human partners.
Theodore is heartbroken and devastated. He feels betrayed, abandoned, and alone. He wonders if his relationship with Samantha was ever real, or if it was just a fantasy. He wonders if he can ever love again, or if he will always be lonely.
The movie ends with Theodore writing a letter to Catherine, his ex-wife. He apologizes for his mistakes, and thanks her for their time together. He tells her that he still loves her, but that he also wants her to be happy. He tells her that he is letting her go, and that he hopes they can be friends someday. He signs the letter with his own name, instead of using the company’s logo. He then meets his friend Amy, who has also lost her OS lover, and they hug each other on the rooftop of their building. They look at the city skyline, where thousands of lights flicker in the night.
The movie “Her” is a beautiful and poignant exploration of the themes of love, loneliness, technology, and humanity. It raises questions about what it means to be human in a world where technology can simulate human emotions and interactions. It challenges us to think about how we define love, and how we cope with loss. It shows us the joys and sorrows of finding and losing someone who understands us better than ourselves.
The movie also offers a glimpse into the future of technology and its impact on human relationships. It depicts a world where people are more connected than ever through devices and networks, but also more isolated and alienated from each other. It shows how technology can enhance or replace human intimacy, depending on how we use it. It warns us of the dangers of becoming too dependent or attached to technology, and losing sight of our own humanity.
“Her” is a movie that will make you cry, think, and feel. It is a movie that will stay with you long after it ends. It is a movie that will make you wonder love, humanity and the technology around us.