By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.5 cats
Director: Greg Pak
Starring: Glenn Kubota | Greg Pak | James Saito | Karen Tsen Lee | Tamlyn Tomita; Wai Ching Ho; Sab Shimono | Vin Knight
Country: united_states
Year: 2004
Running time: 85
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0301777/combined
Barbara says: “I think this is worth seeing. The four stories all have a connection to robots or robotics and are each focused on a strong emotion. ‘My Robot Baby’ recalls a turbulent childhood. ‘Robot Fixer’ deals with a mother having to let go of her comatose son. ‘Robot Love’ deals with robots discovering human feelings and ‘Clay’ (my favorite) depicts an artist who would rather die a normal mortal’s death than be immortalized technologically. 3.5 cats”
Michael says: “Greg Pak focuses on the emotional side of four science fiction stories with a central theme of robots in the self-distributed film ROBOT STORIES, playing all this week at the Brattle Theatre, then slowly making it’s way to other major cities around the country. With a modest budget, a strong script, and solid acting, ROBOT STORIES is an anthology film a la POISON or NEW YORK STORIES. There are some recurring characters in supporting roles, but each story takes place in a slightly different time period (from present day to 2027) with different feature characters.
In “My Robot Baby,” Tamlyn Tomita (COME SEE THE PARADISE, THE JOY LUCK CLUB) plays an executive who is hoping to adopt a child with her husband. First the two must care for a robot baby for a month to prove their parental ability. An episode from her childhood forces her to confront her priorities in a moving conclusion.
“‘The Robot Fixer’ is a moving story of a mother who becomes obsessed with her son’s toy robots after he is involved in an accident that leaves him comatose. “Robot Love” finds writer/director Greg Pak in the lead role as a “G9 iperson” who learns the mysteries of the human heart working as a corporate drone. The concluding story, “Clay,” is a powerful examination of immortality and morality in an age when people don’t die, they merely upload their consciousness into digital format when their bodies fail. Yet one artist rebels against this trend in an effort to hold on to his mortality.
“ROBOT STORIES has won over 20 awards at festival around the country (including the audience award at the Brattle’s own Boston Fantastic Film Festival). It’s just the type of film that Chlotrudis members should take note of… independently produced AND distributed. Pak is traveling around the country with the film introducing it and doing post-screening Q&A’s. And now I’m doing my part in the ‘word of mouth’ effort. ROBOT STORIES plays at the Brattle through Thursday. Why don’t you give it a try?” 3 1/2 cats
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