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campaign image The Man Machine (still from Ex Machina (Alex Garland, GB 2014)
still from Ex Machina (Alex Garland, GB 2014)

Films, talks & robots

The Man Machine

18 October — 13 November 2018

still from Tetsuo II: Body Hammer (Shinya Tsukamoto, JP 1992)
still from Tetsuo II: Body Hammer (Shinya Tsukamoto, JP 1992)

With the film programme The Man Machine about the fusion of man and machine and the role of high-tech and big data, Eye explores the cinematic representation of the fears and desires that inevitably come with it.

What is unique about human beings when a robot can not only imitate our actions, but artificial intelligence even exceeds our thinking capacity?

still from Welt Am Draht (Rainer Werner Fassbinder, BDR 1973)
still from Welt Am Draht (Rainer Werner Fassbinder, BDR 1973)

Watch the programme trailer:

campaign image The Man Machine (still from Ex Machina (Alex Garland, GB 2014))
campaign image The Man Machine
still from Space is The Place (John Coney, US 1974)
still from Space is The Place (John Coney, US 1974)

Films with androids and cyborgs

Over three weeks, Eye draws richly from its own collection and that of fellow archives: from Futura der Maschinenmensch in Fritz Lang's classic Metropolis to the technological state influence in THX-1138 by George Lucas, from the moving young man with scissors as hands Edward Scissorhands to Ex Machina in which the highest form of artificial intelligence is subjected to the Turing test.

The monster of Frankenstein finds his bride, a control program with the seductive voice of Scarlett Johansson makes hearts beat faster and Tetsuo, the avenging cult hero of iron and scrap, strikes out.

still from Westworld (Michael Crichton, US 1973)
still from Westworld (Michael Crichton, US 1973)

Speakers, performers and robots

In addition, there are talk shows, lectures and performances. Guests include: film researcher Julian Ross, interaction designer Pawel Pokutycki, Dirk the roaming robot, musicians from Okapi, artist Ellen van den Assem, America specialist Frank Mehring, media scientist Dan Hassler-Forest, documentary filmmaker Tessa Boerman, philosopher Hans Schnitzler, journalist and Cinema Stadsleven host Tracy Metz, connoisseur of Japanese cinema Tom Mes, artist Floris Kaayk, Maarten Lamers and Peter van der Putten from the Leiden Institute for Advanced Computer Science, artist Lisette Ros, musician Colin Benders, composers from Sonic Acts, media expert Amir Vudka, art scientist Joost Rekveld and artist Ryoji Ikeda.

Programme brochure

Read more on The Man Machine

poster The Man Machine

Films, talks & more

still from Metropolis (Fritz Lang, DE 1927)
still from Metropolis (Fritz Lang, DE 1927)

General impression of the opening night:

opening night The Man Machine

General impression of the robot show:

robot show during The Man Machine

Tessa Boerman on The Man Machine:

Tessa Boerman on The Man Machine

Dan Hassler-Forest on The Man Machine:

Dan Hassler-Forest on The Man Machine

Frank Mehring on The Man Machine:

Frank Mehring on The Man Machine

Lisette Ros on The Man Machine:

Lisette Ros on The Man Machine

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