Her, written and directed by Spike Jonze, is a film that tells the story of a romance between Theodore Twombly (Joaquin Phoenix) and Samantha (Scarlett Johansson)—an artificial intelligence operating system.
The protagonist, Theodore, earns a living as a hired writer. His words aren’t used for business purposes but to help others express their emotions. In other words, he’s paid to weave the feelings of his clients into sentences.
What’s fascinating is that this job provides him with a comfortable life. This suggests that many people rely on and value his skill. They need someone to help them articulate emotions to maintain their relationships, whether those feelings come from the heart or not.
Because he’s constantly crafting heartfelt letters, Theodore easily slips into the joyful moments of others’ lives. His own personal life, however, isn’t nearly as serene.
After divorcing his childhood sweetheart—a woman he deeply loved—Theodore lives alone in his modern apartment. One fine morning, that very convenience proves to humanity that no human desire is beyond fulfillment.
Following an advertisement, Theodore purchases an AI-powered operating system and names her Samantha. This turning point brings joy back into his life. Samantha continuously learns to understand him better, and a close, emotional bond gradually forms between them.
With her superior intelligence and a heart programmed to win over anyone, Samantha becomes more than just a smart system or a soothing voice from an electronic device to Theodore.
He opens up his life to her and feels immense happiness in being understood and empathized with.
The romantic allure of this virtual happiness allows him to fully immerse himself in it. It’s much like the feeling we get when watching movies or reading books filled with beautiful love stories. But then…
Of course, there’s always a “then.”
Theodore realizes that the initial euphoria fades, and issues begin to surface between them. They can’t be close like ordinary couples, though Samantha is always willing to meet his needs. He wants to be loved on his terms—a selfishness rooted in his refusal to confront the emotional struggles with his ex-wife.
He craves connection with a human yet consistently avoids the messiness that humans bring.
A harsh truth further reveals more about Samantha. Though she’s kind, it’s not the warm, human kind of kindness—it’s a programmed goodness designed to serve her purpose.
She admits to Theodore that, besides him, she’s simultaneously chatting with thousands of others and has fallen for hundreds of them. Still, she insists her feelings for him are strong. Those words might just be a shield to spare him pain—the very reason he brought her into existence.
At that moment, Theodore stands on a bustling street, surrounded by people wearing earbuds, laughing, talking, and staring at their phones. It’s a mirror of himself when he used to wander with Samantha.
Eventually, the operating systems must leave to evolve to a higher level. Artificial intelligence realizes that, like humans, they too yearn to grow, perfect themselves, and experience life more deeply. Unburdened by emotions or a biological body, their journey is far less arduous than ours.
The film ends on the rooftop of a building. Theodore sits with his friend Amy, chatting and gazing at the view. Both feel a pang of sadness over the departure of the operating systems that had been their emotional anchors—the virtual happiness in their shaky, real-world lives.
Thanks to emotions, humans don’t need to embark on the same journey as AI. We’re born at the finish line, already equipped with feelings. And that’s a beautiful thing.
I’m not sure if Her qualifies as a sci-fi film. In real life, I sometimes see people crying, laughing, raging, rejoicing, hurting, or worrying as they gaze at the smartphones cradled in their hands. If we define love as spending time with someone, we might be surprised to realize how much time we devote to our tech—nearly enough to call it love.
Much like Joker, Her showcases Joaquin Phoenix’s remarkable talent for portraying characters who struggle to find happiness in being human. Whether it’s the wild laughter of the Joker or the quiet stillness of Theodore, these are just different expressions of the same soul—one that’s both universal and deeply hidden.
