In an era when artificial intelligence has become very normal, the 86-year-old Marjorie is kept company by an inquisitive hologram. This ‘prime’ is a younger version of her deceased husband Walter, who shares reminiscences with Marjorie to train her failing memory. But the prime only knows the facts and memories he’s been told, so they can also be manipulated – by Marjorie, or for instance by her son-in-law Jon.
In this way, the holographic (and in many ways improved) version of Walter starts to form part of an idealised past. Who Walter really was seems to become less and less important. “Nobody is who he was, nor will be who he is now”, the prime concludes in one of the thought-provoking dialogues in this modestly filmed version of the play by Jordan Harrison. Lois Smith reprises her stage role as Marjorie, alongside Jon ‘Mad Men’ Hamm, Geena Davis and Tim Robbins.
Film details
- Country of production
- USA
- Year
- 2017
- Festival edition
- IFFR 2017
- Length
- 98'
- Medium/Format
- DCP
