When the AI sibling (Justin H. Min) bought for his adopted daughter (Malea Emma Tjandrawidjaja) malfunctions father Jake (Colin Farrell) discovers more about the human-like robot as he searches for ways to fix him.

After Yang

Cert - PG, Run-time - 1 hours 36 minutes,

Director - Kogonada

Sci-fi has long been used as a way to reflect and look upon our world as it is now. At the way in which we behave and interact with those around us. Set in the near-future After Yang does just this by taking a peaceful look at connections and the ways in which we form bonds with those around us.

Much of this is explored through the use of advanced, human-like AI Yang (Justin H. Min). He was purchased by couple Jake (Colin Farrell) and Kyra (Jodie Turner-Smith) for their young, adopted daughter Mika (Malea Emma Tjandrawidjaja) to better connect to her Chinese heritage. We see flashbacks of her and Yang discussing facts about China and its history which soon develop into topics about who her real family is. Much of writer-director Kogonada’s screenplay appears to be constructed of quiet conversations exploring such connections, yet while such moments truly strike a chord the most power often lies in moments of reflective near-silence.

There’s an unspoken feeling of grief which subtly runs throughout the film as we see Jake going from place to place trying to find a way of fixing Yang after he malfunctions. While this might act as an opportunity for him and his wife to properly engage with their daughter, after potentially having become reliant on the AI, things soon develop to reveal the couple’s own relationships to the figure which seems nothing like a robot. Such developments feel less like discoveries and more like realisations as the film’s tone carries a sensitivity to its characters. Giving them, and the events that make up the narrative, natural time.

While only ninety six minutes long there’s much to admire within the film. Largely down to its restraint and thoughtfulness towards its themes. Greatly helped by the central performances, particularly an effectively dialled-back Farrell in the leading role, it’s easy to connect with this story about connection and familial relationships. Especially when it comes to some of the reveals about Yang and his own perceptions of the world - brought about by one of the people Jake goes to about fixing the broken AI - it’s easy to engage with what we see.

We still believe the near-future elements, we’re reminded of it without everything being in-your-face. The lines the film treads narratively are enough to do this. And yet, as much great sci-fi does, it reflects something for the modern day and ourselves. In the form of a sensitively dealt with look at connections through a quiet lens of grief. It gives its characters and themes well-paced time to feel natural and avoiding slowness. Kogonada knows how to gently stir and build up authentic emotion within the world and narrative, with an equally restrained cast further helping to enhance the thoughtfulness of the overall piece.

Jamie Skinner -Four stars