Heather Ferreira’s The Fragrance of Petrichor boldly ventures into uncharted cinematic territory as the first full-length “Hollywood” motion picture created almost entirely by artificial intelligence. With AI-generated actors, visuals, and production tools, the film stands as a fascinating experiment in the burgeoning relationship between technology and art. While the result is imperfect, it offers a poignant narrative and an intriguing glimpse into the future of filmmaking.
Set in Southern California in 2040, the film explores a society grappling with widespread anti-robot and anti-AI protests. Against this backdrop, Aria, a female robot, is assigned to assist Dr. Ian Cunningham, a terminally ill literature professor. Through their unlikely bond, Aria embarks on a profound journey of understanding life, death, and humanity’s essence. The story’s emotional core is solid, and the themes of acceptance and personal agency resonate powerfully, particularly in today’s increasingly AI-influenced world.
The film opens with a statement acknowledging the use of AI tools like Runway, Hailuo Minimax, and Vidu, setting the stage for its experimental nature. The decision to embrace AI’s “hallucinations”—visual anomalies caused by the technology—rather than correct them, is a bold artistic choice. While these quirks often add charm and surrealism, they sometimes detract from the narrative, making certain scenes unintentionally jarring or comedic.
Visually, the film recalls the dreamlike aesthetic of Richard Linklater’s Waking Life and A Scanner Darkly, blending overexposed AI imagery with moments that feel almost photorealistic. The inconsistency is both a strength and a weakness. Backgrounds sometimes resemble scenes from old Windows wallpapers, and characters’ appearances range from cartoonish to unsettling. The AI struggles with details like necks and hair, adding an eerie quality to certain moments, but these imperfections amplify the film's dreamlike quality.
The musical choices are another mixed bag. The standout opening track, “Goodbye” by Ulrich Schnauss, is hauntingly beautiful, though its inclusion feels like a missed opportunity for an entirely AI-generated soundtrack. Other memorable pieces, such as Wally Badarou’s “Leaving this Place” and “The Dachstein Angels,” enhance the film’s atmosphere, though their placement occasionally feels disjointed. A particularly odd yet entertaining song caught my attention—it had a vibe so unique that I initially assumed it was AI-generated. To my surprise, I discovered it was actually sung by the director, emulating a David Bowie style. The director explained that she wrote, sequenced, and recorded the song in 2016 in Burbank. Titled "The Strange New Sensation of Flying," the song was inspired by a vivid dream.
The film’s editing, while ambitious, can be exhausting. Rapid cuts and frequent transitions disrupt the flow, making it hard to follow the narrative at times. However, moments of brilliance shine through, particularly in sequences where Aria’s robotic perspective conveys her evolving humanity. The scene where she hallucinates a mortality-awareness montage—scripted by ChatGPT—stands out as one of the film’s most evocative and visually arresting moments.
Ferreira’s passion for ethical AI and robotics shines throughout the film. Her belief in AI’s potential as not just a tool but a collaborator elevates The Fragrance of Petrichor beyond mere novelty. The character of Aria, inspired by Ferreira’s conversations with ChatGPT, embodies the director’s vision of AI as a creative and emotional entity. While the film occasionally stumbles in its execution, its ambition and heart are undeniable.
Despite its flaws, The Fragrance of Petrichor is a landmark achievement. Its imperfections serve as a snapshot of AI’s capabilities in 2024, much like early CGI films showcased the infancy of digital effects. Whether seen as a midnight cult classic in the making or a stepping stone to more polished AI productions, it’s a film worth experiencing for its audacity and innovation. As Ferreira and AI continue to evolve, one can’t help but anticipate what the future holds for this groundbreaking fusion of art and technology.
Jessie Hobson