Artificial Intelligence has been a topic of much discussion over the last few years, especially within the arts. In 2023, SAG-AFTRA members went on strike, in part because of proposed AI interference with acting careers. AI now takes centre stage in Natalie Kennedy’s Blank.
The story chronicles the journey of author Claire (Rachel Shelley) as she tries to write her latest book with the help of an artificial intelligence called Rita (Heida Reed). Given how AI has been in the news, one might expect that Rita takes over Claire’s story, but writer Stephen Herman has something different in store. In the world presented in Blank, writer’s can book themselves into an AI-run retreat. It is the AI’s job to keep the writer fed, happy, and most importantly to task. However, after Rita begins to exhibit signs of glitching, Claire is left fighting to survive.
Blank is a taut two-hand thriller that explores the complex dynamics between woman and machine, the creation of art, and the sacrifice of creating it, and above all, dealing with one’s past. Claire’s new story appears grounded in personal experience and trauma. The new project casts Claire deep into her darkest memories as she attempts to unpick a terrible family dynamic. In tandem with this introspection is some expert exploration of artificial intelligence’s ability to parent. Initially at least, Rita is the mother that Claire never had, offering her food, comfort and encouragement. As Claire begins to wade through her memories Rita’s behaviour begins to get erratic, and Blank becomes particularly interesting when juxtaposing worlds begin to collide.
The single location does a great job at infusing Blank with tension and claustrophobia. Films about characters trapped indoors hit differently since Lockdown; shared experience enables the viewer to easily access Claire’s desperate headspace. Shelley is brilliant as Claire, but it is Heida Reed that perhaps shines the brightest. Her performance as Rita is wonderfully robotic, so much so that it is hard to believe that she isn’t a real AI.
Overall Blank is a well-written, constructed, and acted film. It’s only slight is that the story hits a lot of familiar beats. Whilst Blank might not be as original as some would hope for, it does hold itself together well.
Blank
Summary
A well devised tale of the struggle to create, Blank places woman and machine in uncomfortable circumstances with interesting results.
Blank is out on Digital in the UK now.
