Conceiving Ada (1997)

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 ... See full summary »

Director:

Lynn Hershman-Leeson

Writers:

Lynn Hershman-Leeson, Eileen Jones

Stars:

Tilda Swinton, Francesca Faridany, Timothy Leary

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tilda Swinton	...	Ada Augusta Byron King, Countess of Lovelace
Francesca Faridany	...	Emmy Coer
Timothy Leary	...	Sims
Karen Black	...	Lady Byron / Mother Coer
John O'Keefe	...	Charles Babbage
John Perry Barlow	...	John Crosse
J.D. Wolfe	...	Nicholas Clayton
Owen Murphy	...	William Lovelace
David Brooks	...	Children's Tutor (David)
Esther Mulligan	...	Mary Shelley
Ellen Sebastian	...	Dr. Fury
Mark Capri	...	Dr. Locock
Joe Wemple	...	Priest / Talk Show Host
Chris von Sneidern	...	Musician In Elevator
David Eppel	...	Simon

Storyline

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 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 nineteenth century. Emmy has a plan to defeat death and the past using her own DNA as a communicative agent to the past, bringing Ada to the present. But what are the possible ramifications?

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Plot Keywords:

candlelit bath | crying | computer | death | genius | 

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Genres:

Drama | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Clone of Ada [Japan] Lynn Hershman

Country:

USA Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 February 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

Clone of Ada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hotwire Productions,Outpost Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

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."

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Quotes

Ada Augusta Byron King, Countess of Lovelace: I'm not at all certain that half a life is better than no life at all.

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Connections

References Demon Seed (1977)

User Reviews

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.