Bigbug is a French science fiction black comedy film, written and directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet, that was released on 11 February 2022 by Netflix.[1][2] It stars Elsa Zylberstein, Isabelle Nanty, Youssef Hajdi, Alban Lenoir and François Levantal.[3] Set in the world of 2045, where communities have robotic helpers, a group of suburbanites are locked in for their own protection by their household robots, while a rogue, sentient AI android revolt uprising outside.
Synopsis
In 2045, artificial intelligence is everywhere. So much so that humanity relies on it to satisfy its every need and every desire, even the most secret and wicked. In a quiet suburban residential area, four domestic robots suddenly decide to take their masters hostage in their own home. Locked together, a not-quite-so-blended family, an intrusive neighbor, and her enterprising domestic robots are now forced to put up with each other in an increasingly hysterical atmosphere. While outside, the Yonyx, the latest generation of AI androids, are becoming rogue and attempting to take over the world. When the tensions begin to rise as the threat draws closer, the humans look elsewhere, get jealous, and rip into each other under the bewildered eyes of their indoor robots. Maybe it's the robots who've got a soul or not.
Cast
- Isabelle Nanty as Françoise
- Elsa Zylberstein as Alice
- Claude Perron as Monique
- Stéphane De Groodt as Max
- Youssef Hajdi as Victor
- Claire Chust as Jennifer
- François Levantal as Yonyx leader
- Alban Lenoir as Greg
- Marysole Fertard as Nina
- Hélie Thonnat as Léo
- Dominique Pinon as Igor
Production
Filming began in October 2020 despite the COVID-19 pandemic.[4] The film was shot on an Arri Alexa LF.[5]
Reception
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 46% of 35 reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.60/10. The website's critics consensus states, "Jeunet fans will find the whimsy they seek within BigBug, although it isn't enough to make this mishmash more than intermittently engaging."[6] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 46 out of 100 based on 14 critics' reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[7]
Themes and analysis
When asked about the film's subtext on the future of humanity, Jeunet stated:
"I hate messages. But if there is a message in “Bigbug” it is that artificial intelligence will never kill human beings because they will stay stupid. They don’t have a soul."[8]
The film was interpreted by several critics as a political satire, mocking COVID-19 lockdowns and humanity's increasing dependence on technology.[9] Armond White of National Review wrote that the film is "about mankind trapped in its own hubris",[10] which was "the first great satire of the Covid-era lockdown and Big Tech enslavement."[11] The film contains a reference to a pandemic known as "COVID-50".[12]
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