What is love? What is life, even? Those existential questions and more are explored in Love Me, the debut feature of writing-directing duo Sam Zuchero and Andy Zuchero, starring Kristen Stewart and Steven Yeun. Yeun and Stewart aren’t playing humans, but what does being human even mean? The recently released trailer shows how this buoy and satellite transform themselves beyond their component parts. We also glimpse the different filmmaking techniques the Zucheros employ, including live-action and practical animatronics, classic animation, and game engines. It takes a big swing, and though reviews from its screening at Sundance last year are mixed, it’s shaping up to be something different than what we’ve seen before. Love Me, a Bleecker Street film, will premiere in theaters for public viewing on January 31, 2025.
Love Me explores romance through AI-powered machines learning how to emote. The film hits theaters on Friday, January 31, and follows Stewart's buoy and Yeun's satellite as they inherit Earth after humanity's extinction. With only the internet as their guide, the two grapple with what it means to be alive—and to love. The trailer, released by Bleecker Street on January 1, depicts Stewart’s buoy learning about humanity online, discovering internet uploads of another woman she chooses to emulate.
“We could be friends! Pick a face. How about this face?” the buoy quips to the satellite, landing on Yeun's image. This playful interaction sets the stage for their exploration of human existence. "What does it feel like to be alive?" Yeun wonders as moments of life—dates, births, all flash before them. Stewart adds, “Life, it’s full of rainbows and light. It’s intense,” hinting at the emotional layers shared between them.
The film made its world premiere at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, where it earned the prestigious Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize, presented for outstanding focus on science or technology. Stewart received the Visionary Award at the event, expressing her attraction to Love Me as it dares to “jump the throat of identity.”
“Every five minutes, we can just flip-flop, and the overriding echo is if we inhale the internet, if we were all to die right now and our footprint was just this echo of disparity, I would be proud of it,” Stewart reflected. “Like, love me. We just want to be like, ‘Can you see me? What is me? Am I anything? Am I distinct? I don’t know. Am I worth loving? I don’t know?’” She believes the film is about the ever-changing nature of identity.
The Zucheros’ first feature aims to explore AI and identity through live-action, animatronics, and classic animation, crafting a tale of connection and transformation. “It’s hard to explain. I hope I don’t botch it, because it’s revolutionarily written,” Yeun said, sharing his initial nerves about portraying this unconventional love story.
Produced by ShivHans Pictures, 2AM, and AgX, Love Me has executive producers including Daniel Bekerman and Christine D’Souza Gelb. The film's premiere at Sundance revealed mixed reactions, with its current Tomatometer rating sitting at 47% on Rotten Tomatoes.
The Zucheros utilize various filming techniques to convey deep emotional tales of existence and identity. Before its release, filmmakers aim to engage viewers with questions about love, identity, and what it means to be human, or at least humanoid. "I’m not even a buoy anymore. I’m just me,” Stewart’s character eventually declares, underscoring transformative personal journeys.
The film promises to intrigue audiences with its poignant storytelling, marrying romance and technology with philosophical inquiries. Love Me is set against the backdrop of humanity's absence, showcasing the unlimited possibilities for storytelling beyond traditional narratives.
Reactions to the freshly released trailer showcase its emotional depth and unique concept. Will audiences be interested in this post-apocalyptic tale? With its thought-provoking narrative, it beckons viewers to contemplate the possibilities of love and identities intertwined with technology. Will they find themselves on January 31, when Love Me finally graces the big screen?