"Sophia" - Tribeca Film Fest Review
As far as movies about robots go, Sophia has far more humanity than most. David Hanson is the inventor of the titular robot Sophia. She has a face that’s instantly recognizable, and she’s widely known as the most natural humanoid robot ever invented. Sophia can react to humans in real time, answering questions, changing facial expressions, and even getting stage fright. t’s Hanson’s neverending optimism that keeps the team afloat as Sophia’s programming glitches, the money runs out, and society’s opinion on robots turns sour.
There’s a fascinating duality in Sophia that’s quite unexpected. Hanson makes it clear that he’s sacrificing his relationship with his family and his free time to focus all his energy on Sophia. His mother’s cancer is getting worse, his son is growing up quickly, and Covid-19 is raging, yet Hanson remains endlessly hopeful that a breakthrough is right around the corner. He’s so desperate to bring life to Sophia that he’s letting his own life pass him by.
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The documentary begs the question: what is life? What quantifies an existence? Do science, medicine, poetry, emotions, and reproduction give us our humanity, or is it something else? Can the very essence of humanity be programmed into the consciousness of robots?
The scientific advancements that are in development at this moment in time point to the inevitability of a robot-centric future. Sophia, the Boston Dynamics dogs, drones, etc. are all proof of the path society is going down. Some are afraid of what reliance on robots will look like while others, like Hanson and his team, see only the benefits of robots. It’s the first time in history that humans have been forced to make rules and regulations for how to interact with another being that shares this earth. Humans and animals have interacted since the dawn of time, and while there’s continued debate about the definition of ethical treatment, animals are not new. Robots, on the other hand, are created by humans. They’re a brand new entity that we’ve unleashed on the planet. How we treat them, the rights they deserve, and their overall role in society are all part of a new frontier.
Sophia is a masterful documentary by two filmmakers who have made a name for themselves in the genre. Directors Crystal Moselle and Jon Kasbe have taken a humanistic approach to examining Sophia and Hanson. Both are attempting to find a meaningful place in our world.
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