Guardian critic pans Taika Waititi's sci-fi film Klara and the Sun

British newspaper The Guardian has published a negative review of the new science-fiction film Klara and the Sun. Director Taika Waititi adapted the film from Kazuo Ishiguro's novel. Waititi is known for comedies such as Hunt for the Wilderpeople and Thor: Ragnarok. The reviewer calls the new work sentimental and laborious, and says its humour is not funny.

The story

The film is set in a future where families can buy "artificial friend", or AF, robots for their children. According to the film, a third world war has wiped out the internet, as an AF saleswoman played by Natasha Lyonne explains. The robots carry a purple, blood-like substance called PEC-9, which a character describes as highly flammable.

The title role of Klara, a robot girl, is played by Jenna Ortega. She is solar-powered and therefore worships the sun as a god. Klara is an older, more rudimentary model than newer ones that run on Bluetooth. She goes to live with Josie (Mia Tharia), a 14-year-old prodigy who is lonely and suffering from an unspecified illness. Josie's mother is played by Amy Adams and the housekeeper Melania by Rachel House.

The critic's verdict

The reviewer writes that the film demands both laughter and tears from the viewer but achieves neither. He compares it with Waititi's earlier Jojo Rabbit, describing both as misjudged and self-admiring. The twist ending is called unsatisfying and contrived.

The critic considers the subject, real intelligence and feelings in robot children, a difficult one. He notes that Hirokazu Kore-eda also struggled with it in Sheep in the Box, while Kogonada's After Yang was more interesting and persuasive.