Can a machine earn the right to die? The story of Bicentennial Man.
In short: In 1999, Robin Williams starred as Andrew, an android who spends two centuries evolving from a household servant into a legally recognized human. While the film was a box office disappointment, it remains a poignant exploration of mortality, consciousness, and the profound desire to be more than just code.
Released in December 1999, Bicentennial Man is based on Isaac Asimov’s 1976 novelette and the 1992 novel The Positronic Man. The narrative spans two centuries, beginning in 2005 when the NDR-series robot Andrew is purchased by the Martin family. Initially a simple housekeeper, Andrew begins to exhibit creativity and emotions, prompting his owner, Richard Martin, to encourage his development. As Andrew navigates a world where robots possess no legal rights, he accumulates a fortune and eventually petitions the World Congress for his freedom and, ultimately, his humanity.
The film’s central conflict revolves around Andrew’s quest for mortality. After undergoing extensive modifications to gain human-like appearance and biological functions, he falls in love with Portia, the granddaughter of his original companion, Amanda. Because he is immortal, he faces rejection from the World Congress, who fear the societal implications of an eternal human. In a final, desperate act of self-actualization, Andrew chooses to replace his artificial fluids with a blood equivalent, ensuring that he will eventually age and die. This decision allows him to finally be recognized as a human on his deathbed in 2205.
Despite its ambitious premise, the film faced significant production hurdles and critical division. Disney initially halted production due to budget concerns before co-financing the project with Sony. Upon release, it grossed only $87.4 million against a budget of up to $100 million. Critics were largely unimpressed, with many describing the script as mawkish and dull, though some praised its adherence to the spirit of Golden Age science fiction. While a sequel titled Tricentennial Man was once planned to explore the philosophical question of whether robots possess souls, it was cancelled following the film's poor commercial performance.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Bicentennial Man (film)
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