I'm Not a Robot

You know how at the end of online registration forms we’re often asked to pass a CAPTCHA test to prove that we are not robots? And you know how those tests seem to have gotten more difficult than they used to be? Well, it’s not unusual for me to actually fail the first try – maybe even the second – but eventually my humanness gets validated. Have you ever considered what would happen if you couldn’t pass that test? This is exactly the situation Lara is about to face in Oscar-nominated short I’m Not a Robot , as she tries to update an app to no avail. Could this mean that she’s actually a robot? 

The inspiration for the I’m Not a Robot first struck writer/director Victoria Warmerdam when she herself struggled to pass a CAPTCHA test. Which got her thinking: “What if this was how I discovered I was actually a robot?” From there, she explained that this “simple thought spiraled into a much bigger story about identity and what it really means to be ‘human’”. Triggered by this introspection, Warmerdam began developing the screenplay, relying on “humor to delve into the deeper themes”. She also admitted that she wrote the lead role specifically for actress Ellen Parren, who had already expressed an interest in the project before the script was even completed.

“The magic of film lies in its ability to let you step out of your own reality for a moment. It transports you to another world, offering a welcome escape” – Warmerdam on her aims for the film.

I’m Not a Robot is impressively effective as both a clever, darkly comedic sci-fi and a deeper exploration of free will and agency. By starting with a ridiculously mundane situation, which all of us can relate to, Warmerdam instantly places us in her protagonist’s shoes. From this point, the viewer can appreciate the film as a narrative with razor-sharp humor, and/or as a thought-provoking story about what sets us (I’m assuming you’re a human) apart from robots – while also exploring the power dynamics of a woman in a relationship with a man. Warmerdam admits that she loves the idea that “after watching this film, filling out a CAPTCHA will never feel quite the same again”. And honestly? It hasn’t for me – especially when I fail… more than once.

With a highly intentional approach to the visual flair of the film, Warmerdam wanted the aesthetic to complement both the tone and themes of the screenplay, employing a retro vibe and 35mm cinematography to contrast with the omnipresence of technology in her narrative. DP Martijn van Broekhuizen camerawork working to expertly blend the humanity at the core of the story with the cold, sterile layer of the narrative. With the structure of the screenplay placing us in Lara’s shoes, the images are on the darker side, echoing her experience, and deepening our emotional engagement. The film’s comedic element, however, truly comes from the edit, with Michiel Boesveldt finding the perfect rhythm and cuts to enhance the satirical tone of the screenplay.

“That’s how I usually prefer to work—it’s so much easier to write for a specific actor than to find someone who merely fits the character on the page.” – Warmerdam on casting Parren in the lead role.

As previously mentioned, Ellen Parren delivers a remarkable performance as Lara, taking us on a journey through the five stages of grief as her character struggles to processes her identity. Every emotion she experiences on this rollercoaster feels raw and authentic, infused with a genuine sensitivity that makes us root for Lara. Her performance is so compelling it leaves us questioning what we would do and how we would react if we were in her place.

Nominated for the upcoming 97th Academy Awards, I’m Not a Robot is one of the Short of the Week team’s favorite candidates in the Best Live Action Short Film category. Premiering at the Netherlands Film Festival in September 2023, before taking the festival circuit by storm with notable stops at Winterthur, the Palm Springs ShortFest and Fantasia. Along the way, it won many prizes, including awards at Sitges, Leuven and Flickerfest Australia, solidifying its place as a standout contender for the Oscars.