Okay, how was that? Are we good here? Great.
In Signs and Wonders last week, we watched a movie I've never heard of called Robot and Frank. The plot involves an ex-cat burglar with impending dementia and his personal robot/ life coach who manages to be adorable and creepily existential at the same time. What a duo.
 |
| "Why are you wearing a space helmet?" |
The movie was a tad slow at the start, but once the old-timer Frank starts training Robot in the arts of burglary, things escalate in a way that is less expected and more enjoyable in my opinion. There are no car chases, no firefights, and no intense computer-generated action. Instead, the writer decided to delve into the characters a little more. While out stealing from the rich, Frank and Robot have some deep conversations. Robot tells Frank about his concept of memory, and how memory is so insignificant to AIs like Robot. Frank can't wrap his mind around diminishing the value of memory, probably because what's left of his own memory is very precious to him.
This movie connected to me in an interesting way. My grandmother suffered from Alzheimer's for several years, and I think this movie portrayed the confusion of memory loss in an excellent way. I used to be really afraid of my grandmother because I never knew if she would remember me or not when I stepped into the house.
In the end of the movie, Frank moves into a mental institution where he receives proper help. Though Frank loses his friend Robot, he is reunited with all of his loved ones. I guess in a way, when my grandmother died in 2007, she was reunited with her loved ones too.
Great movie. Robot and Frank's relationship is so touching. Seeing how Frank warmed up to him was great.
ReplyDeleteI agree. My great-grandmother had Alzheimer's Disease, and I think the movie portrayed both the confusion for the one inflicted and the helplessness of the loved ones. I also thought it was interesting how he lost his robot friend. He realizes he has corrupted something that in, in a sense, pure. He accepts that what he loves doing is wrong, and gives it up in return for a relationship with his family.
ReplyDelete