37. Heidelberger Symposium: Her

In the organizer's words:

HER

Special screening on Friday, 29.05.26, 19:30 (English OmU) in cooperation with the 37th Heidelberg Symposium

Introduction and Q&A with Prof. Dr. Henry Keazor and Alexandra Vinzenz (Institute for European Art History - University of Heidelberg)

USA 2013 | Director: Spike Jonze | 127 min. | FSK 12
Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Scarlett Johansson, Amy Adams, Rooney Mara

We are showing "Her" and in a short introduction and audience discussion after the film, we will explore the question of how personality is formed in the relationship between humans and AI and at the same time enters into an emotional crisis when closeness is no longer clearly human. At the same time, we ask how the film shapes this constellation aesthetically: Through its reduced visual language, characterized by warm colors and calm shots, as well as the almost disembodied presence of digital interfaces, it creates a visual world in which closeness and loneliness initially seem to merge in an almost paradoxical way.

--

FBW - Film Rating: Rating particularly valuable:

Theodore is successful in his profession. He writes empathetic handwritten letters on behalf of others, full of love, warmth and affection. But in his private life, his luck has run out. The divorce papers are on the table and there seems to be no new love in sight. One day, Theodore installs the personalized computer system OS in his home. In "Samantha" he finds an understanding listener who has wit, charm and intuition and who responds to him. And soon Samantha is more to Theodore than just the voice from the computer. The basic idea of the film sounds crazy and futuristic: a love story between man and machine. But although Spike Jonze's film is set in the future, we are not so far removed from it today, with communication far removed from personal interpersonal contact. And yet the film is all about emotion: this unusual love story between Theodore and Samantha (voiced by Scarlett Johannsen in the original) develops very delicately, which Jonze's outstanding screenplay lightens up again and again with little jokes and many dramaturgically clever twists. Joaquin Phoenix masters an incredible task. He plays large parts of the movie with only one voice in his ear and still manages to credibly convey feelings of infatuation, affection and longing. The music, which always matches the mood, and the perfectly staged imagery play another important role in bringing the two closer together. Spike Jonze devotes himself to love in all its facets. Whether it is past, friendly, romantic or in vain. All this makes HER such a truthful, honest and deeply touching movie about the nature of love. In whatever form it takes.