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Conceiving Ada

  • 1997
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 25m
IMDb RATING
4.9/10
516
YOUR RATING
Conceiving Ada (1997)
Home Video Trailer from Microcinema
Play trailer2:43
1 Video
3 Photos
DramaFantasySci-Fi

Emmy Coer, a computer genius, devises a method of communicating with the past by tapping into undying information waves. She manages to reach the world of Ada Lovelace, founder of the idea o... Read allEmmy Coer, a computer genius, devises a method of communicating with the past by tapping into undying information waves. She manages to reach the world of Ada Lovelace, founder of the idea of a computer language and proponent of the possibilities of the "difference engine." Ada's... Read allEmmy Coer, a computer genius, devises a method of communicating with the past by tapping into undying information waves. She manages to reach the world of Ada Lovelace, founder of the idea of a computer language and proponent of the possibilities of the "difference engine." Ada's ideas were stifled and unfulfilled because of the reality of life as a woman in the ninet... Read all

  • Director
    • Lynn Hershman-Leeson
  • Writers
    • Lynn Hershman-Leeson
    • Eileen Jones
    • Sadie Plant
  • Stars
    • Tilda Swinton
    • Francesca Faridany
    • Timothy Leary
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    4.9/10
    516
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Lynn Hershman-Leeson
    • Writers
      • Lynn Hershman-Leeson
      • Eileen Jones
      • Sadie Plant
    • Stars
      • Tilda Swinton
      • Francesca Faridany
      • Timothy Leary
    • 22User reviews
    • 20Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Videos1

    Conceiving Ada
    Trailer 2:43
    Watch Conceiving Ada

    Photos

    Conceiving Ada (1997)
    Tilda Swinton in Conceiving Ada (1997)
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    Top cast

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    Tilda Swinton
    Tilda Swinton
    • Ada Byron King
    Francesca Faridany
    Francesca Faridany
    • Emmy Coer
    Timothy Leary
    Timothy Leary
    • Sims
    Karen Black
    Karen Black
    • Lady Byron…
    John O'Keefe
    • Charles Babbage
    John Perry Barlow
    John Perry Barlow
    • John Crosse
    J.D. Wolfe
    • Nicholas Clayton
    Owen Murphy
    • William Lovelace
    David Brooks
    • Children's Tutor
    Esther Mulligan
    • Mary Shelley
    Ellen Sebastian
    • Dr. Fury
    Mark Capri
    Mark Capri
    • Dr. Locock
    Joe Wemple
    • Priest…
    Chris von Sneidern
    • Musician In Elevator
    David Eppel
    • Simon
    R.U. Sirius
    • Barlow
    Kashka Peck
    • Teenage Ada
    Rose Lockwood
    • Child Ada…
    • Director
      • Lynn Hershman-Leeson
    • Writers
      • Lynn Hershman-Leeson
      • Eileen Jones
      • Sadie Plant
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      A director's statement in the film's production notes says that the film was "structured around the idea of a double helix". "Every scene," the notes say, "was structured and shot using a DNA image as a model for actors' placement and camera movement."
    • Quotes

      Ada Augusta Byron King, Countess of Lovelace: [her last words] Death makes the fragility of life delicious. In general, I'm not opposed to it.

    • Connections
      References Demon Seed (1977)

    User reviews22

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    6/10
    An Intriguing Sci-Fi Fantasy with Historical Elements
    Conceiving Ada is an odd, but ultimately somewhat rewarding film. I had picked it up largely based on the presence of Tilda Swinton, not expecting much from it beyond her performance. I was pleasantly surprised.

    The film has a somewhat awkward framing device of a modern computer scientist who discovers a means of communicating with the past. Through the eyes of the modern scientist, we see the life of Ada Lovelace, the world's first computer programmer.

    At times, the approach gives a feeling of nothing so much as a PBS or BBC low budget documentary on Lovelace's life, particularly the way in which it is divided up into snippets. Furthermore, the science behind the communication with the past is preposterous, and requires a serious suspension of disbelief. This is not hard science fiction, folks, despite the real world elements. The cameos by Timothy Leary are equally distracting, adding nothing to the plot.

    However, both the woman who plays the modern scientist and Tilda Swinton manage to be engaging. The film is definitely worth a look.
    helpful•2
    0
    • TheExpatriate700
    • Feb 7, 2010

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • February 19, 1999 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Germany
    • Official sites
      • Clone of Ada (Japan)
      • Lynn Hershman
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • クローン・オブ・エイダ
    • Production companies
      • Complex Corporation
      • Hotwire Productions
      • Outpost Studios
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 25 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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