Cinema Mythologica: Her (2013)

Love robots, doppelgängers and tragic heroes – behind these iconic film characters lies a mythical past. Although most films are set in the present or the future, classical myths play a significant role throughout Hollywood. Countless films are inspired by archetypal narrative patterns and mythical characters, particularly when they deal with contemporary themes such as AI, gender and psychology. In the Cinema Mythologicaseries, a collaboration between De Uitkijk and classicist Koen Vacano, we uncover the hidden mythical layers of film history, from Oedipus complexes to narcissistic algorithms. Each film features a short introduction in English, inviting you to view the film through a mythological lens.

Joaquin Phoenix shines in Spike Jonze’s soulful sci-fi drama about a lonely writer who falls in love with his computer’s highly advanced operating system. Theodore Twombly (Phoenix) has built his career on expressing emotions that others are unable to articulate. His job is to write sincere, deeply personal letters to complete strangers based on details provided by the clients of the company he works for, and he has a gift for finding exactly the right words for every occasion. Meanwhile, Theodore reluctantly signs the papers that will finalise his divorce from his childhood sweetheart. The depressed Theodore has gradually withdrawn from his supportive social circle, which includes his old friend Amy (Amy Adams), who is herself trapped in a failed marriage. When Theodore buys a new, advanced computer operating system that is capable of learning and evolving alongside the user, he sits down at his desk and sets about getting his life in order. The perceptive software, which takes the name Samantha (Scarlett Johansson), slowly begins to draw Theodore out of his shell by encouraging him to go out again and accompanying him everywhere. Their relationship soon becomes intimate. Theodore teaches Samantha what it means to feel human, and Samantha gives him the strength to put his failed marriage behind him. However, things soon become complicated when Samantha’s rapidly evolving knowledge begins to alter the very nature of their relationship.

• Language: English
• Subtitles: Dutch
• Duration: 126 mins.
• Director: Spike Jonze
• Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Scarlett Johansson, Amy Adams
• Year: 2013
• Country: United States