An animated sci-fi film about a clash between humans and machines. Set in the future, this neo-noir crime story was selected for the Cannes program in 2023.
In 2200, humans and robots peacefully coexist on now-populated Mars, while Earth has turned into slums for the unemployed. Private detective Aline Ruby and her android partner Carlos Rivera, modeled on her deceased husband, are investigating the disappearance of Jun Chow, a cybernetics student accused of hacking into a robot and recoding it so it can overcome ethical limitations. With the help of hacker Roberta, Ruby and Rivera uncover a plot aimed at starting a conflict between humans and cyborgs.
As well as Cannes, this debut feature animation by Jérémie Périn was shown at the prestigious animation festival in Annecy. Stylish and visually flawless, it addresses questions that we are only starting to tackle in our relationship with AI. How dangerous is it? Does AI have rights? The pulse of electronic music adds dynamic tension, while a combination of 2D and 3D animation techniques creates a believable picture of dark and grim Martian underground life.
The film will be screened in French with Russian subtitles.
Mars Express
Director: Jérémie Périn
France, 2023. 88 min. 16+