Her Reflection: Glimmering like a Remote Star
The movie Her tells a love story between a professional letter writer Theodore and Samantha, a female voice through an intelligent talking OS. To find a company at the beginning, Theodore gradually opens his private world to this mysterious “female.” They talk, get familiar, fall in love, yet Samantha surpasses the stage of human love, leaving Theodore alone just as the beginning of the film. From this innovative perspective, I discover more definitions about intimacy, especially digital intimacy, that I have never thought about.
Despite Her is a scientific film in some degree, it’s still largely based on human relationship and humanity; therefore, sex becomes a problem that we must face when discussing the issue of intimacy. From the hilarious cyber-sex to the fact that Samantha tries to rent a body for herself, the director leads me to think that whether body or sex is a must or a hinder to intimacy. In the film, Theodore establishes a firmer and deeper association with Samantha without physical contact. I see how communication, understanding and sharing thoughts take more important places in a relationship, which most of the people today largely dismiss. In other words, the director shows that people feel lonelier when they have intimate to talk with, not when they lack a sex mate. However, the film leaves an open ending to the audience as well. Whether sex can really be abandoned and psychological communication is the core of the intimacy, or it’s just a state that us human can never attain in long term?
Another thing that make me surprised is a detail of people’s lives in this digital era. There is no denying that Theodore is a digital gadget, highly relying on the OS. Before seeing this film, I think digital gadgets pay little attention to the world around them, since those digital objects occupy all their attention. However, Theodore loves to observe people around him, even imagine their thoughts, feelings and stories. Then what causes the lack of intimacy today? Maybe the fact that people are stilling caring others but lose the ability to share such emotions. What digital media hinders is not the attention to the world yet the courage of communicating with real people.
All in all, Her provides me an opportunity to see how people interact with intelligent computer and real people in a fake and somehow extreme situation. I realize that communication is crucial in an intimate relationship and a possible reason for people losing intimacy in this digital era.
