After Yang

After Yang, released in 2021, is an avant-garde, contemplative science fiction film featuring a power-packed performance from a star-studded cast that includes Colin Farrell, Jodie Turner-Smith, and Malea Emma Tjandrawidjaja. The movie explores profound questions about human identity, connections, memories, and what it genuinely means to be alive.

The film is set in a not-too-distant future, where technology is deeply rooted in everyday lifestyle, serving various rudimentary to complex needs. Among these technological advancements, there are humanoid robots, referred to as 'techno-sapiens' or 'coded humans'. They are advanced AI machines that are primarily purchased or "adopted" as companions and helpers.

Colin Farrell plays Jake, a man who lives with his wife Kyra (Turner-Smith) and their adopted daughter Mika (Tjandrawidjaja). To help Mika connect with her Chinese roots and learn more about her heritage, Jake and Kyra purchase an Asian 'techno-sapien' named Yang (Justin H. Min). This doting second-generation progeny of Asian immigrants has been programmed with extensive knowledge of cultural specifics and traditions, helping Mika understand her ancestral lineage while aiding the family in various tasks.

One day, Jake finds Yang inoperable – he has inexplicably broken down. This seemingly simple problem with his robotic family member leads Jake on a quest that quickly evolves from finding a 'techno-sapien' repairman into an introspective journey contemplating existential dilemmas. Yang's breakdown prompts Jake and his family to understand the importance and integral role Yang played in their lives, undeniably humanizing Yang beyond his metallic facade.

With a narrative that smoothly vacillates between a science fiction aesthetic and a domestic drama, After Yang traverses through the course of android ethics as well as the familial bond. The masterful storytelling of director Kogonada gradually unwraps deeper, more philosophical themes reflecting upon human life and our relationship with technology. However, through its all, the essence of After Yang remains centered around an earnest familial connection.

The movie's visual style plays a crucial role in its pace and atmosphere. As the characters navigate between sterile, metallic cityscapes to contemplative natural scenes with rich, organic textures, the elaborate cinematographic visuals help create contrasting tones of cold dystopia and warmth of human nature. The exquisitely filmed scenes evoke a sense of mystery and present a vividly created world where technology is luxurious yet unsettlingly pervasive.

Colin Farrell, in the role of Jake, delivers a profoundly absorbing performance portraying the emotional burden of a father grappling with a peculiar situation. As Jake, Farrell brings a quiet, stoic exterior that houses an ocean of emotions under the surface, effectively acting as a subtle but powerful anchor of the movie.

Jodie-Turner Smith, playing the role of Kyra, complements Farrell's role with a convincing portrayal of a pragmatic mother coming to terms with contemporary parenity. Their bond on the screen is palpably genuine and exudes the complexity of their characters' relationship. The presence of Malea Emma Tjandrawidjaja as Mika is profoundly impactful, as she embodifies the innocence of a child's perspective in the tangled world.

After Yang is marked by its slow-paced otherworldly ambiance, accentuated by its synth-heavy score that flickers between soothing docility and mysterious unease, essentially mirroring the blend of familiar and foreign the characters experience.

In a nutshell, After Yang, is a touching tale of connection and self-exploration bundled in the tropes of science fiction. The director skillfully uses the science fiction paradigm to ask vital questions about existence, memory, and mortality while exploring the intricacy of human relationships. The atmosphere is thoughtful and meditative, accompanied by sublime cinematography and a riveting script that plays mindfully with the dichotomy of technology and human spirit.

Its allure lies not in the grandeur of groundbreaking technologies or a dystopian future, but in capturing the tender human emotions afoot in the changing landscape of a highly technologically adaptive world. After Yang indeed leaves its viewers pondering over the co-existence of humans and artificial intelligence, and what it means to be truly alive.