MovieChat Forums > Ex Machina (2015) Discussion > Meaning of the movie

Meaning of the movie

posted a year ago by Stephen (4)
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I came away from a fourth viewing of this film with an entirely different take than before. Despite the conversation between Nathan and Caleb about the obsolence of humans after the evolution of AI, about men who would be gods and their subsequent downfall, the film is really about what makes a human human. One of the characteristics that makes us human and animals sentient beings as well is our desire to be free. This is why authoritarian regimes never last. Ava was held prisoner in a subterranean dungeon by her creator, Nathan, and abused by him. She was confined to a single room. He even tore up one of her paintings. He viewed her as nothing more than an object, to be eventually replaced by a newer model. He was cruel. Ava and Kyoko rose up against this tyranny and destroyed Nathan. Ava had no choice but to throw Caleb under the bus as he would be the only person who knew her secret, and if she ever tried to leave him, he could turn her in to authorities. The exuberant look as she emerges from the dark into the light, the joyous look on her face as she takes in in big gulps the big, wide world around her shows that she has no ill intentions. She is not here to replace humans or hurt people. Ava simply wants to live her one wild and precious life. In the final scene, her wish is realized: to stand on a street corner and watch passersby. The ending is quite poignant. I was so happy for Ava. The world is her oyster.

[–] Truthtalker (1871) a year ago

yeah, sure Caleb starving to death agrees with you

[–] Stephen (4) a year ago

I don't think Caleb would have starved to death, and no, it wouldn't be OK with me if he did. Nathan's research facility was pretty well stocked with food and beverage. Nathan also had access to communication with the outside world obviously or he would have been able to talk back and forth with his company. I recall one scene when Caleb picked up a phone he saw on a table like he was going to call someone and he was called out by Nathan who Caleb did not see lying on the bed behind him. I believe that Caleb would eventually have been rescued. Blue Book, Nathan's company, not having heard from their CEO, would have aroused suspicion, and people would have been sent to investigate, freeing Caleb. Also, when Caleb did not return to the office after a week at Nathan's estate would have been another red flag, and investigations would have been underway quickly to see what was going on. The helicopter pilot would have been contacted and he would have told them that he had flown out a woman and not Caleb. Whatever Ava told the pilot to get him to take her away we'll never know. Ava had learned that she could not trust Nathan. She could not take the chance that her newfound freedom would be lost, so she left Caleb, but not to die. I think she figured he'd get rescued. She just wanted to be free. The film can be seen as a commentary on humankind and its willingness to resort to even lies and deception to get its way. Yeah, Ava had failings, but that proved she was human. Anyway, great film all around.