Watch The Domesday Book
- NR
- 2010
- 51 min
The Domesday Book is a South Korean science fiction anthology film released in 2010. The film is directed by three prominent South Korean filmmakers, Jee-woon Kim, Pil-Sung Yim, and Jo Beom-jin. The title of the film refers to the medieval manuscript The Domesday Book, which was used to survey and record information about the inhabitants and resources of England in the 11th century.
The movie is divided into three parts, with each part directed by a different filmmaker. Each segment has its own unique storyline, characters, and visual style but all of them share a common thread of exploring the themes of ethics, mortality, and humanity in the face of technological advancement.
The first part, "Heaven's Creation", directed by Pil-Sung Yim, is set in the near future and revolves around a group of engineers tasked with building an artificially intelligent robot named Eve. As they struggle to navigate the ethical dilemmas that arise with the creation of Eve, they also grapple with their own personal lives and relationships. The segment includes heart-warming moments, like Eve's adorable interactions with her human creators, but also tense scenes where the line between artificial and human intelligence begins to blur.
The second part, "The Heavenly Creature", directed by Jee-woon Kim, is a dark satire set in a future where humans have found a way to cure all diseases by transferring human consciousness to new bodies. The segment follows a government official who is sent to deal with a corrupt corporation that has been forcing people to consent to having their consciousness transferred in order to keep their jobs. The segment raises questions about the morality of immortality and the lengths people will go to in order to prolong their own lives.
The third and final part, "Happy Birthday", directed by Jo Beom-jin, takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where disease has wiped out most of humanity. A group of survivors seek refuge in an abandoned research facility where they discover a machine that can grant them immortality. But as they begin to use the machine, they realize that there may be unforeseen consequences to their newfound immortality. This segment explores the consequences of humanity's pursuit of immortality, and raises questions about the value of mortality and the fleeting nature of human existence.
Overall, The Domesday Book provides a thought-provoking and visually stunning exploration of humanity's relationship with technology, mortality, and the pursuit of immortality. The film's three parts, while distinct and unique, come together to form a cohesive and engaging experience that will leave viewers contemplating the nature of their own existence.