Puzzlehead (2005)

Director:

James Bai

Writer:

James Bai (writer)

Genre:

Drama | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

So this is what it is to be human...

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Self Discovery | Scientist | Android | First Person Perspective | Dystopia

Awards:

1 win

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Stephen Galaida	...	Puzzlehead / Walter
Robbie Shapiro	...	Julia
Mark Janis	...	Carjacker
Mark Lampert	...	Dead Man / Victim
Jon Bavier	...	Landlord
Paul Schulz	...	Dreggy Guy
Elise Abrams	...	Dreggy Girl
Ramon Moraldo	...	Homeless Man
Ray Montanez	...	Mugger
Chuck Ardezzone	...	Robber
John El Manahi	...	Thug #1 (as John Elmanahi)
Kevin McCormack	...	Thug #2
Richard Craven	...	Paramedic #1
Edward J. Harrigan	...	Paramedic #2
Amy Lotven	...	Patient

Runtime:

81 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Filming Locations:

Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Zero Sum Productions

Quotes:

[first lines]
Puzzlehead: The Anti-Federalists and the Luddites forced the closure of all biomechanical laboratories and began replacing them with fertility clinics. Funding ceased for everything not directly related to re-population. Quite ironic now that I think about it. Walter managed to salvage most of the equipment that wasn't nailed down...
[...]

Way Better than A.I.

I had the good fortune to see this movie at the Santa Barbara Film Festival and listen to the director and the lead actress in it answer questions. He spent 6 years editing and putting this movie together and it shows despite the obvious budget limitations he faced.

Anyways, the film itself is basically about a man who creates a robot (named Puzzlehead) that looks exactly like him and whose "synaptic map" is a direct copy of his own. The two look the same except for a beard. The man has a crush on a local grocery store clerk and Puzzlehead the robot is the one who ends up finally meeting her. She thinks he's a human etc. and the drama begins. The plot goes from there and i don't want to spoil it but basically there's a lot of twists involving who is the real man and who is the robot and which is ultimately the better person.

The film handles robot artificial intelligence issues really well and shows the progression of how a robot would likely think and the striking differences and similarities between humans and robots. The film makes the audience truly question who is more human. All the technological mumbo jumbo is easy to understand so you don't get into a situation where you're confused (like that movie "Primer"). But the plot does stay a little ahead of the viewer.

The film obviously could have benefited from a bigger budget, but there are an enough circuits and gizmos and filming techniques that convince us that the protagonist created a robot.

There is subtle humor throughout and the plot is constantly engaging. I strongly recommend everyone see this film.

On a side note: the lead actresses's dialogue was all replaced by some other woman's voice to make it sound more eastern European. I was surprised she was at the screening, I would have been mad.