POPCORN REVIEWSS

Written by Aranya Sahay, the title of the film is itself a commentary of the identity of the human race in the wake of an emerging entity – a new techno-human that would soon change the fate of humanity for the better or the worse. It is a form of a closed relationship that is interchangeable wherein one programs and the other learns, even whilst the reverse is true also. But more specifically, it determines the life of Nehma and her tryst with her daily routines at the data center – wherein she along with many such tribal women are tasked with labeling objects in order to train the new AI models. It is almost as if Nehma is tactfully tasked with training a child, similar to her daughter who is the future, without a subtext of the future with regards to her own daughter’s future in the wake of AI. It is a bittersweet commentary in that regard!

One of the theme involves that of capitalism given how Nehma is essentially tasked with training a ‘tech-child’ of a stranger, while neglecting her own child in the process. In a scene, you notice how Nehma spends most of her day labeling the different muscle movements while feeding the same in the AI database, only for a live-model of an infant to slowly standup and walk. It is interesting given how she misses the exact moment with her own child, something that is spotted by her daughter Dhaanu in a moment before she does. It is a faint commentary on how all of us are so engrossed in the rat race organized by the corporate capitalists, that we truly miss out on the smaller moments and victories of life. In that sense, AI isn’t much different either – a capitalist that is slowly been taught the ways of the world before potentially turning rogue against the people who works for it. Interestingly in the same scene, it is this ‘change’ (of a human infant walking) that diffuses the tension between the mother and daughter – a reminder that change is constant and essential for relationships to flourish (something that circles back at the end too)!

There is a subtle commentary on classism sandwiched in a searing take of discrimination that is essentially highlighted in the second act (even as the film is divided into three chapters). In a scene, you see Nehma resisting and refusing to label a caterpillar as a pest, given how her upbringing closer to nature tells her that they only eat up the dried part of the leaf, and in turn contribute to the nourishing of the plant. But in the scene prior to this, a parallel involves Dhaanu being discriminated at school by her friend’s mother who discourages her to spend time with Dhaanu.

It is a bittersweet moment that also defines the character of Dhaanu – a daughter that was seemingly happy with her father but is frustrated given how her mother does not give her enough time. It is almost as if Nehma is devoted to the training of AI, but invariably also neglecting her own daughter along the way. It is almost like a destined defeat for Nehma – one in the present with respect to her daughter, and one in the future with respect to her job and her daughter’s future. It is the kind of an endless loop which is referred in the title.

It is interesting how Nehma in a fleeting scene takes Dhaanu and her infant to the woods, in order to acquaint them with the surroundings of nature – wherein every little object (living or otherwise) have a semblance of life as per her. It is Nehma’s way of escapism into a more familiar natural habitat that still holds the chords of democracy as opposed to the virtual world of capitalism. It is subconscious for her, even while doubling up as the protector of her family. Hence it is ironic on how a porcupine plays the protector during a scene involving Dhaanu who tries running away with her sibling, moments before Nehma finds her too. Here, the porcupine that is Nehma’s spirit animal is there to protect her baby, shedding its shyness – much like Nehma had with respect to protecting her children from her toxic husband.

And yet, the writer wishes to infuse hope in this world even with respect to technology – that has a more likely chance of adapting and correcting its mistakes rather than humans. The quest remains for the human identity and representation, something that isn’t always showcased when the attendent (Gita Guha) wishes to demonstrate the same to Nehma on her system using AI. And yet, it is the concept of changing and adapting that Nehma wishes to employ, something that extends to her equation with her daughter too, that brings the required results, even though momentarily. It is a sort of a bittersweet commentary in the broad strokes for a world that is faster moving towards a techno-future with a clout on human relationships. Will this loop be broken? That is the film poses to ask while leaving you with a hint of hope!