Coincidentally, I was able to see this film the same day I posted the trailer; and let me start off by saying, I was not disappointed. If you go to the Official Website, you can see the film for free.
I don't generally "review" short films because, typically, they don't have enough material to fully develop, or to write about for that matter. So I'll comment on the personal experience I had watching the film. Many times short films are just showcases of skill; exposing a filmmaker's talents to get bigger and better work. This film is more.
I'm Here opens with Sheldon, a passive, gentle male robot, following his daily routine -- go to work, back home, recharge, repeat. He meets Francesca, a fun, extroverted android girl, who befriends him due to a sort of fateful attraction. The entirety of the film is dedicated to their growing love.
Sheldon is an admirable character, which tends to be rare these days, sadly. He is a symbol of true love. He is selfless, caring, and extremely generous, to a sacrificial degree. His personality reminds me of a British Michael Cera, minus the sarcasm, heavy on the sweetness, and as endearing as WALL-E.
Francesca is kind and outgoing. She pulls Sheldon out of his shell and helps him to experience life. The more she opens him up on the inside, the more he loses on the outside. Through a series of unfortunate events -- downright clumsy acts that lead to dismemberment -- Francesca continually finds herself losing body parts. Being the nice guy he is -- and the fact that they're robots -- Sheldon keeps giving her the parts she loses from his own body. By the end of the film, he is left with little, but has grown a lot.
Their relationship is so endearing. I mean, you kind of get frustrated when she keeps getting hurt. You just want to scream, "BE MORE AWARE! YOU'RE GOING TO KILL HIM!" But when Sheldon looks at her with his droopy eyes and selflessly sacrifices himself to make her whole, you're heart just melts.
This is an ultimate feel good movie. Not in the typical way Hollywood does it, but in a subtle, creative, imaginative, relatable way. And that's what does it, the fact that we can relate to these non-beings. It's rare that we connect with artificial intellegents in movies. Spike Jonze scores again with this thirty-one minute piece of art.
Spike Jonze is known for his imagination -- ie. Being John Malkovitch, Adaptation, Where the Wild Things Are. If you've never seen any of his work, watch this and experience his brilliance first hand. Also, he uses the same technique he did in Where the Wild Things Are by animating their faces with CGI. The special effects team should win an award, because the character's expressions are flawless, conveying just the right emotion to pull at your heartstrings. Remember, this is a simple love story; light on the story, and straight to the point. It moves very quickly and nearly rushes through their relationship, but take it for what it is. It will brighten your day.
