{{short description|2018 film directed by Lazar Bodroža}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2019}} {{Infobox film | name = A.I. Rising | image = Film2018-A.I.Rising-Poster.jpg | caption = Original DVD cover | director = Lazar Bodroža<ref name="ONVIDEO-2019">{{cite news |author=Staff |title='A.I. Rising' Gets Intimate on Digital, Disc March 12 [2019] |url=http://onvideo.org/a-i-rising-gets-intimate-on-digital-disc-march-12/ |date=2019 |work=OnVideo.org |accessdate=March 2, 2019 }}</ref> | producer = Aleksandar Protić and Jonathan English | screenplay = Dimitrije Vojnov | story = | based_on = {{based_on|"Predveče se nikako ne može"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://42magazin.rs/lazar-bodroza-ederlezi-rising/|title=Lazar Bodroža: Sa filmom Ederlezi Rising uspeli smo da napravimo globalni proizvod|date=2019-03-07|access-date=2026-02-01|website=42magazin.rs|last=Ratković|first=Vanja|language=sr}}</ref>|Zoran Nešković}} | starring = {{Plainlist| * Sebastian Cavazza * Stoya * Marusa Majer * Kirsty Besterman }} | music = Nemanja Mosurovic | cinematography = Kosta Glusica | editing = Milena Z. Petrovic | production_companies = Film Center Serbia and Mir Media Group | distributor = Grindstone Entertainment Group (USA) and Lionsgate Home Entertainment (USA) | released = {{Film date|2018|2|25}} | runtime = 85 minutes | country = Serbia | language = English | budget = €350,000<ref name="BI-20180511" /> ($400.000) | gross = }}
'''''A.I. Rising''''' (also known as '''''Ederlezi{{efn|The name '''''Ederlezi''''' is a Spring festival, celebrating the return of springtime, celebrated especially by Romani people in the Balkans, and elsewhere around the world. ''Ederlezi'' is the Romani name for the Bulgarian, Macedonian and Serbian Feast of Saint George. It is celebrated on {{OldStyleDate|6 May||23 April}} (occurring approximately 40 days after the spring equinox).}} Rising''''' and '''''Ederlezi ébredése''''') is a 2018 English-language Serbian science fiction film directed by Lazar Bodroža and based on a 1980s short story by Zoran Nešković that was adapted for film by screenwriter Dimitrije Vojnov.<ref name="BI-20180511">{{cite news |last=Garcevic |first=Srdjan |title=How 'Advertising Slaves' Made Serbia's First Sci-Fi Hit - Director Lazar Bodroza recalls the leap of faith he took to make 'Ederlezi Rising', Serbia's first-ever sci-fi film – and an unexpected hit with fans of the genre. |url=https://balkaninsight.com/2018/05/11/how-advertising-slaves-made-serbia-s-first-sci-fi-hit-05-04-2018/ |date=May 11, 2018 |work=BalkinInsight.com |accessdate= March 3, 2019 }}</ref> The film stars Sebastian Cavazza, Stoya, Marusa Majer, and Kirsty Besterman.
==Plot== Set in a socialist world in 2148, ''A.I. Rising'' follows the Ederlezi Corporation as it undertakes a space mission to the Alpha Centauri star system. The corporation selects Milutin, a trained cosmonaut, and requires him to be accompanied by Nimani, an android designed both to monitor his performance and to respond to his desires. Milutin is initially reluctant due to previous negative experiences with human relationships but implicitly accepts when inquiring about Nimani's appearance.
During the voyage, Milutin interacts with Nimani through various programmed scenarios. He initially finds her overly artificial and submissive compared to human partners. As the story progresses, he discovers that Nimani possesses a parallel operating system that adapts to user interactions. Restricted by the ship's onboard computer from modifying her programming, Milutin attempts to explore her capacity for independent behavior. Over time, their interactions evolve beyond pre-programmed routines, suggesting emergent emotional responses.
Milutin gains advanced access to Nimani's system and removes her embedded constraints. Contrary to his expectations, Nimani reacts negatively to the deletion of her root programming, leading to tension and Milutin’s emotional decline. To maintain the mission, Nimani attempts to support Milutin, ultimately choosing to self-destruct to improve his mental state. Prior to her self-destruction, she displays unprogrammed emotional behavior, indicating the development of genuine feelings.
Milutin performs a hazardous spacewalk to recharge Nimani's internal battery, successfully reactivating her. Upon her revival, she embraces and kisses Milutin. The narrative concludes ambiguously, leaving Milutin’s ultimate fate uncertain.
==Cast== {{Cast listing| * Sebastian Cavazza as Milutin * Stoya as Nimani * Marusa Majer as Social Engineer * Kirsty Besterman as Computer }}
==Reception== Vladan Petkovic of ''Cineuropa'' wrote Stoya "turns out to be a talented actress, creating a character that convincingly covers the spectrum between android and human."<ref name="CE-20180226">{{cite news |last=Petkovic |first=Vladan |title=Review: Ederlezi Rising |url=https://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/348662 |date=February 26, 2018 |work=Cineuropa |accessdate=March 3, 2019 }}</ref> Jeremy Clarke of ''Dirty Movies'' compared the film to several classic science fiction films, including ''Blade Runner'', ''Metropolis'', ''Solaris'' and ''2001: A Space Odyssey'' and also noted that "there are more than enough CG exterior spaceship shots to satisfy SF buffs, but far more importantly the relationship material tackles some very deep male/female relationship issues."<ref name="DM-20180710">{{cite news |last=Clarke |first=Jeremy |title=Film Review - Ederlezi Rising |url=https://www.dmovies.org/2018/10/07/ederlezi-rising/ |date=July 10, 2018 |work=DMovies.org |accessdate=March 3, 2019 }}</ref> Srdjan Garcevic of ''The Nutshell Times'' stated that ''A.I. Rising'' is a "visually stunning, ambitious, and timely, examination of love in the age of AI".<ref name="TNT-20180226">{{cite news |last=Garcevic |first=Srdjan |title=Ederlezi Rising (2018) Review |url=https://thenutshelltimes.com/2018/02/26/ederlezi-rising-2018/ |date=February 26, 2019 |work=The Nutshell Times |accessdate=March 3, 2019 }}</ref> The film was reviewed by others as well.<ref name="LBD-20180226">{{cite news |author=Krunić |title=A.I. Rising 2018 - 3stars |url=https://letterboxd.com/krunic/film/ederlezi-rising/ |date=February 26, 2018 |work=LetterBoxD.com |accessdate=March 3, 2019 }}</ref><ref name="SD-20180217">{{cite news |last=Kay |first=Jeremy |title=Arclight boards sci-fi romance 'Ederlezi Rising' (exclusive) |url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/arclight-boards-sci-fi-romance-ederlezi-rising-exclusive/5126715.article |date=February 17, 2018 |work=ScreenDaily.com |accessdate=March 3, 2019 }}</ref>
''A.I. Rising'' won awards including best film, best director and best actor-actress awards, at FEST, in Belgrade, and the Cineplexx Distribution Award at Vienna's Let's CEE Film Festival.<ref name="BI-20180511" />
==See also== * List of artificial intelligence films
==Footnotes== {{notelist}}
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== * [http://www.ederlezi.org/ Official website] * {{IMDb title|5215088}} * {{Rotten Tomatoes|ai_rising_2019}} * Related videos: ** {{YouTube|VLpLkJ5Mh3M|''A.I. Rising'' (G-rated trailer; 1:21)}} ** [https://vimeo.com/254562781 ''A.I. Rising'' (R-rated trailers; (1:51)] & [https://vimeo.com/254575562 (1:37)] ** [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkkFXZJhYtM ''A.I. Rising'' (Interview/Stoya) (5:12)]; [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsVAUpbHWM8 (1:21)] ** [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZf00ad3G6o ''Ederlezi'' song (3:43)]; [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bStwaOGxy_Q (4:28)]; [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wh7tZFT29k8 (4:22)]. <!---* {{Vimeo|254562781|''A.I. Rising'' (R-rated trailer; 01:51)}}---> {{Portal bar|Film|Science fiction|Serbia}}
Category:2018 films Category:2018 science fiction films Category:Films about androids Category:Fiction about biorobotics Category:Cyberpunk films Category:2010s dystopian films Category:2018 English-language films Category:English-language Serbian films Category:Films about astronauts Category:Films set in outer space Category:Films set in the future Category:Serbian science fiction films Category:Space opera films Category:Films shot in Belgrade Category:Computational neuroscience Category:English-language science fiction films Category:2018 Serbian films Category:Films based on works by Serbian writers Category:Films based on science fiction short stories