Thomas in Love

Work Title: Thomas in Love
Medium: Film
Episode Title:
Year: 2000
Writer(s): Pierre-Paul Renders
"Original" Writer: Yes Own work?: No
Summary:

Thomas in Love is an elaborate stunt, but as such things go, it's utterly ingenious. This film's action, set in a vaguely William Gibson-ish future, is seen entirely through the video monitors of a man named Thomas Thomas--whose face is never seen. Thomas suffers from phobias and hasn't left his apartment in eight years, so he interacts with the world via his "visiophone." We see everything through Thomas's screen as he talks with his therapist, his mother, and a variety of prospective female companions (cybersex is a big issue in this movie, as we see in the opening virtual sex sequence). The film's conceptual device might have become monotonous, but first-time director Pierre-Paul Renders creates a wacky futuristic look, and a couple of the performances are genuinely haunting (especially Aylin Yay as a sad-eyed government-provided medical prostitute). Even Thomas's grunts, sighs, and mumbles are endearing. This cinematic experiment succeeds. / Winner of several major international film awards including awards at the Paris and Venice Film Festivals, THOMAS IN LOVE was a surprise hit in theaters across the country in 2001. Sexy, smart, and suspenseful, this clever comedy is laced with sensuality." (from http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000714CN/qid=1124120587/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-7581607-0983124?v=glance&s=dvd&n=507846) Tragos

Era/Year of Portrayal: present_day
Distinctive characteristics of the world in portrayal:

The characters are mostly human but viewed only through a "visiophone," as if on a screen. One character is virtual, and shown in cybersex scenes.

Technology

  • Name of portrayed presence-evoking technology: The Visicom system allows Thomas to experience the world without leaving his apartment. He uses a Visiophone to interact with everyone from his mother and his therapist to the grocer and repair man.
  • Description of the technology: The technology is similar to a webcam. Thomas' insurance company provides him with prostitutes, a therapist and other service people whom he knows only through the airwaves. The technology is installed in his apartment and not mobile (except that Thomas calls his therapist, who is driving when he answers the Visio-call--so perhaps the "phones" are mobile).
  • Nature of task or activity: thomas uses the Visicom system to grocery shop, order a repair to his vacuum cleaner, to go on "dates" arranged by a matchmaking service, to interact with his mother, for sessions with his therapist and for cybersex.
  • Performance of the Technology: The technology allows Thomas to participate in society in an artificial and shallow way. His agoraphobia has prevented Thomas from leaving the apartment in eight years so the Visiophone is his connection to the outside world.
  • Description of creator(s): The services Thomas receives over the Visicom system are controlled and monitored by a state-operated insurance company. If the insurance company suspects he is leaving the apartment or that his condition is improving, it can revoke some or all of t
  • Major goal(s) of creator(s): It is unclear why the system was created by the state. Obviously, Thomas uses it because of mental health issues.
  • Description of users of technology: Thomas is 32 years old when the film begins. Although the viewer never sees his face, other people comment that he is good-looking. Since he can't leave his home, we can assume that Thomas no longer has a career. He mentions that he has an aquarium and is fond of fish. He is obviously starved for human love but his agoraphobia prevents him from doing anything about it. His therapist signs up Thomas with a dating service but the one woman with whom he "connects" wants to meet in person and he can't bring himself to come to her apartment, so she breaks up with him. Other than the girls from the dating service, everyone else who uses the technology is an employee of the state-managed insurance company, including a madame and prostitutes who Thomas calls.
  • Type(s) of presence experience in the portrayal: both
  • Description of presence experience: Thomas acknowledges that his interactions with humans are, ultimately, artificial. At first, he is content with cybersex. But then he experiences true affection for a prostitute and realizes that the Visiophone is no substitute for face-to-face interaction. The presence experience closely mirrors talking to someone over a camera phone or through teleconferencing.
  • User awareness of technology during experience: Yes. He controls the usage.
  • Valence of experience: At the beginning of the film, Thomas seems resigned to his reliance on the Visicom system. But he gradually grows to resent the technology.
  • Specific responses: All of his emotions--from happiness to anxiety, arousal and anger--are experienced via the Visiophone.
Long-term consequences:

The technology allows Thomas to function in some aspects of society, which is good. But, at the same time, the Visicom system also enables Thomas to hang on to his social phobias by allowing him to shop, interact with people, etc., without leaving the apartment. In the end, it is implied that he is motivated to venture into the outside world, so it is a hopeful ending.

Other:

Coder name: Gwen Shaffer
Coder email: gwen4@temple.edu
Coder affiliation: Temple University