I'm not one to indulge in too many short films, but just the title of Victoria Warmerdam's I'm Not a Robot was enough to pique my interest. As soon as I heard the Dutch-language sci-fi short announced as an Oscar contender for Best Live Action Short Film, I made a mental note to give this movie a watch—and guys, it is incredibly sharp and so entertaining.
Ellen Parren stars as an average employee named Lara, whose peaceful music session gets interrupted when an "I am not a robot" CAPTCHA test pops up on her computer screen. When she fails all of them, she starts to question her humanity, which sparks an interesting turn of events.
Parren delivers a standout performance as the relatable Lara, who has to wrestle with a disturbing revelation while navigating a tech-driven world. Her frustration is so palpable and almost painful to watch—but this is balanced with moments of clever humor (especially when she's at work). The supporting cast is also quite good, although I would argue that Parren could have easily pulled this film off if it were a one-woman show. But Parren's stellar portrayal of Lara isn't this movie's only strength.
