The Idea of Control in the Film Ex Machina by Alex Garland
As the world becomes advanced in technology and what it can be created into, many questions of the murals included in handling the technology come into place. One of the questions that begins to be asked is when a technological being is so advanced it is almost human, is if it is the creator’s choice to keep it contained or the machines. In the film Ex Machina, Nathan creates an android named Ava that essentially is fighting for control of actions. The scene that best illustrates the theme off control shown throughout this film is at the very ending when Ava finally gains control and leaves the cage behind; the director illustrates this theme through the usage of camera shot, costume design, special effects, sound, and symbolism. The idea of control for technology advanced beings is a strong topic that is being brought up more and more because of the uncertainty of the human’s dominance if the more advanced android are released into the ‘real world.”
This film starts off with showing that Caleb has won the opportunity to participate in an experiment called the “Turing Test” that questions the ability of a computer being able to trick a human into believing it is also human, even though the human is aware that it is not. After Caleb arrives to this secluded building, the unstable character Nathan, the creator, is introduced. After a series of test, or sessions, it is starting to become apparent that Caleb has been lied to. Instead of Nathan being the one testing Ava, Ava is the one testing him. Caleb even realizes that Caleb has not won the opportunity to test Ava but was actually chosen based off of his actions to participate in this experiment. Once this comes into the light, Ava’s true colors begin to show and the actions taken by the android turns out to be very deceptive. As the film reaches its turning point, Ava essentially stabs her creator in the heart, killing Nathan, and gaining access to the entire building and also her freedom. This last event leads into the scene that is chosen to be analyzed, in which Ava gains control.
In the opening frame of this scene Nathan is used as the focal point. The camera is shot down close to the floor on the same level as Nathan is laying. The costume consist of a white top and black pant. The white top represents the innocence and the black pants are used to symbolize the power Nathan used to have. The costume designer used the black pants contrasting with the white top to show how he failed to see the world around in a more complex view. Because of these actions Nathan was killed by his own creation. The splash of red surrounding the knife handle on his shirts symbolizes the loss of his willpower and control over Ava. This image is only shown for two seconds and then zooms out slightly to change to the image of Ava.
When the camera focuses on Ava it goes from being close to the ground capturing a submissive stance to capturing a dominant stance at a considerable height difference. For the first time in this scene, Ava does not appear to look the same way as throughout this entire film. The film lead up to the thought of Ava being a human or being able to be recognized as one. The one thing that was holding the audience back from believing it is was the appearance of the machine. The android now appears to be a flawless human being in the next frame. The special effects team of this film deliberately did this to represent the slow transition for an android to a human; from being submissive to being in total control. The camera, shot facing the mirror, next moves to the left to show the full reflection of Ava.
Ava has placed the skin on her body to wear, and now fully appears human. At this point it is fully naked, which is similar to when a human baby is first born and they are born with just their skin. The director chooses to show this shot where she is bare to show that Ava is a new person now. Ava has been reborn with her new freedom, appearance, and life. Next, Ava walks over to a closet with her old body inside. When the android looks at it as it is closing the door on its old self and looks in the mirror of the closed door to see the new being. This frame shows the importance of Ave closing the door to start a life with uncontrollable freedom.
As this point in the film the attention of the audience is drawn to Caleb through the drastic change of camera shot. This frame consist of an extreme close up of Caleb to draw emphasis on his facial expression. As Caleb looks out into the glass the expression of wonder becomes apparent. The special effects used in this frame is shown through the makeup done on his face. On Caleb’s face is blood from the corner of his mouth to his chin to showcase the loss of his freedom and control. As the camera zooms out the next frame comes together to show how the scene all comes together.
In this frame the shoulder of Caleb is shown in the right hand corner and is almost unnoticeable. Through the glass there is the branches of a tree going left and upward to stand for the growth of independence and control that Ava has. Ava’s full body is shown through the branches of trees and although it is not clear, the audience knows for sure that it is her. Caleb is left almost completely out of this frame to represent how little he means to Ava right now and from now own. When the scene continues on Ava, now fully dressed, begins to leave the room of mirrors.
As the android leaves the room, the camera is shot from across the entry of the room Caleb is in. Caleb can be seen in the dark background wearing dark clothes standing as if he is lost. This contrasts greatly with the light Ava is in the whiteness of her dress. Caleb and Ava’s roles have reversed in who is in control and who is helpless. As Ava leaves she continues to scan her car, open the door, and leaves behind another closed door. This time the closed door symbolizes the new chapter in leaving Caleb behind. Ava is no longer the test subject or the tester.
As the door closes the camera shot changed from in front of Ava to quickly show from where Ava is standing. These two different camera shots is there to show what she is leaving behind and gaining. In the first camera shot she is shown in the front with Caleb behind her stuck in the cage she created from him. Caleb’s clothing now becomes clearer and he is dressed in a grey and black sweatshirt to symbolize his vulnerability. Ava is dressed in a lace white dress not only to show her feminism but also to broadcast her clean slate brought on by her gain of freedom. The importance of the sound in this scene is shown by the nonexistence of it. Although, there is a soundtrack of background music playing the entire time, there is a clear indication that Caleb is trying to communicate through his expressions and movement; however, the audience hears nothing. The second screen shot shows the image of two bodies, Nathan and Kyoko, laid rigidly on a red carpet with white walls. The red carpet is used to symbolize the bloodshed and lives lost, while the white walls represent the new beginnings. As Ava leaves this floor on an elevator the symbolism of the door is shown once again. The door symbolizes Ava leaving behind not only her creator but also anything similar to her that would give her true identity away.
As Ava goes to finally leave this place that has held her hostage for her entire existence she finally takes one look back. Throughout this entire film Ava has the same facial expression on her face. This is assumed because of her being an android she is unable to dictate her feelings and translate them to physical expressions. However, when she looks back into the camera Ava smiles one big smile. It is so sudden you almost do not notice it, however, the costume director was able to emphasize it with his choice of hair style for Ava. With her hair pulled back from her face you are given a clear view of her face and the expressions on it.
As this scene begins to close out, it follows Ava out of the building and into the forest surrounding the house. As she begins to walk away from the building, the camera stays behind her as if it is the building that has held her in closed for so long watches her escape into her freedom. As the camera zooms out, you are able to see Ava walk into the walkway through the forest. The director chose to surround her with trees because it is great symbolism of growth. The audience is able to see Ava go from being an android enclosed in a cage to an exact replica of a human being walking away into her own freedom.
Ava’s victory of the battle of control throughout this entire film is made apparent because of the transformation into a “human” at the very end. Ex Machina illustrates the theme of control throughout this film. However, this scene clearly illustrates it because of its usage of camera shot, costume design, special effects, sound and symbolism. The film clearly demonstrates what would happen to humans if artificial intelligence is able to outsmart its creators and gains its freedom. The very existence of humans would begin to be questioned. If the androids can outsmart the humans, the role of humans would be altered and their sense of control will become nonexistent.
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