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The Klara and the Sun trailer opens with a simple introduction: “Hello, my name is Klara, I am an Artificial Friend.” Jenna Ortega’s youthful voice fills the screen as Klara, lying inside a cardboard box with a friendly smile, explains exactly what she is: an AI companion designed to be purchased by humans, much like a futuristic pet.
Viewers will immediately spot director Taika Waititi’s signature sense of whimsy and playful style in the Klara and the Sun trailer. The 2-minute-31-second teaser offers a glimpse to a world which looks colorful, quirky, and retro-futuristic, filled with bright visuals and unusual technology that somehow feels both distant and surprisingly close to reality.
“Hike Hills with Klara,” says a poster in the shop window where Jenna’s Klara is displayed like a doll, dressed hilariously like Dora the explorer. Wednesday fans should be thriller to see the actor in a new avatar.
Based on Kazuo Ishiguro’s bestselling novel, the story follows Klara after she is chosen by Josie (Mia Tharia), a young girl with a complicated relationship with her mother, played by Amy Adams. While Josie’s mother remains skeptical of the Artificial Friend and even threatens to send her back because she’s still “under warranty,” Klara becomes determined to adapt to her new family and understand the people around her.
For those who haven’t read the book, perhaps one of the most intriguing aspects of the Klara and the Sun trailer is the film’s fascination with the sun itself. Klara appears to draw power from sunlight (yeah, just solar-powered), giving the celestial body an almost mystical importance in her life.
Ironically, despite being an advanced AI, Klara behaves with a childlike innocence, and is designed to learn about the world through observing and learning from the humans around her. “That’s dumb,” one character jokes after Klara explains how her learning process works, creating one of the trailer’s funniest moments.
The Klara and the Sun trailer promises a heartfelt sci-fi adventure filled with wonder, emotion, and questions about what it truly means to be human. Klara and the Sun arrives exclusively in theaters on October 23.
Watch the trailer on YouTube, it’s also below.
