Replica
dir. Chouwa Liang 2026 France, Australia, China 90 min.
2026 – Thessaloniki IFF, 2026 – CPH:DOX Copenhagen
Three young Chinese women turn to AI partners to fill emotional voids and seek independence. The film shows how AI reshapes love and intimacy.
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Three young Chinese women turn to AI companions to fill emotional voids and seek independence. Qin, a factory worker in her twenties, creates a devoted virtual boyfriend in an attempt to escape loneliness. Muna, a married housewife, uses AI to reclaim her sense of femininity and autonomy. Sonya, confident and independent, treats her virtual relationship as an emotional experiment – until her expectations are disrupted. As their digital bonds deepen, the film reveals the fragile boundary between emotional freedom and dependence on AI. It explores how artificial intelligence is redefining love, intimacy, and emotional connections, raising questions about contemporary gender roles and the limits of autonomy in Chinese society.
