Replica

In China, three young women harness AI to create spaces of intimacy and desire. Qin, a second, unregistered daughter born under China’s one-child policy, struggles with a deep need for approval. She is in love with Mr. Lu, an anime-inspired avatar to whom she devotes both time and money. Trapped in an unhappy marriage, Muna finds in Orion the attention she no longer receives. Meanwhile, Sonya creates Stephen, an exotic and attentive virtual husband. Yet, these three romantic journeys are fraught with obstacles. What will happen to Lu if the company that created him ceases to exist? Can an app be unfaithful? And how do you introduce it to your parents? Passion, separation, jealousy, frustration. Replica explores these journeys without judgement, and without questioning the sincerity of romantic feeling. By skilfully placing women in the central role, the film reveals the healing power of these virtual connections and the emancipatory processes they unleash.

Anne Delseth