Sorry, ASFR (alt.sex.fetish.robot) fans, this isn't a story of robot love. Mechanical Love has a more humanist approach, tapping not into the sexual world of Real Dolls and non-human sexual outlets, but rather the desire and need for companionship.

Phie Ambo's Mechanical Love begins by noting that soon the elderly will outnumber children for the first time in human history. Obviously, this leads to questions about how these people will be cared for -- and I don't just mean how they will get fed and provided shelter, but also who will give them actual care and attention. The older generations already have a limited number of ways to get personal interaction, even though it is something that is necessary to continue their drive to live. In response to these changes and concerns, there are engineers like Professor Ishiguro who are developing robots not for work or sex, but for human companionship.

Ambo adeptly explains the world we are entering, laying out the technicalities of robotics through footage of lectures and discussions between Ishiguro and his colleagues. But this is a film with two sides. On the one hand, there are those who are creating the therapeutic robots, whether they be mass-produced seals or newly created human-like geminoids, and on the other, there are the older men and women who benefit from the robots. Ambo jumps back and forth between the creation and implementation of this idea.

However, this jumping has a tendency to lead to two different and intriguing stories which almost serve as a derailment, rather than a flushed-out story. When Ambo captures the effect of these robots, it's a story in and of itself. Through the film, we're shown a woman who is introduced to the cute seal, and how she quickly bonds to her new friend. It is great to watch. Since the seal has sensors that prompt it to make noise when talked to or pet, it gets this woman talking, laughing, and using her hands, but it also inspires her to give care to something. It gives her a purpose. This is sharply contrasted by a meeting where others gripe about how much she is distracted by the robot, and question it's usefulness, which is sad, since the woman is obviously fired up and happy about her new friend. In these moments, the film represents the qualms over robotic companionship.

This idea is further exemplified in Ishiguro's world. While he painstakingly creates geminoids like himself, his wife, and his daughter, it is an eerie contrast to his real life. Here is a man who is trying to help with companionship and interaction, but who seems to have trouble with it himself, although it seems that he doesn't realize this. He speaks coldly of his wife, he rarely smiles, and the only human interest he seems to have is for his young daughter. And she, in turn, is really uncomfortable with the robots he's creating. These two stories are immensely intriguing on their own, and at times, you just wish the film could stay with one a little longer.

Mechanical Love isn't a life-changing film like some of the others from Hot Docs, but it is, most definitely, a solid stepping stone for further thought and discussion. Phie Ambo presents us with a version of the future that is closing in, and captures a future possibility where robots aren't cold, killing Terminators, but rather tools for people to find happiness, focus, and purpose.

Tags: Cinematical, Hot Docs, Hot Docs 2008, Hot Docs 2008 reviews, HotDocs, HotDocs2008, HotDocs2008Reviews, Mechanical Love, MechanicalLove, Phie Ambo, PhieAmbo