R Is for Robot

One year ago, Dr. Chrisantha Fernando, a young Sri Lankan-born Theoretical Biologist, was looking at the 12 week ultrasound of his first child when he had an incredible idea. An idea that would lead him to create an algorithm for producing unique, creative and evolving 'thoughts' in computers. An algorithm that once placed in any robot body, would let that body slowly discover its own unique abilities, to truly learn. To explore the world around it and most astonishingly, to actually 'enjoy' exploring. Overtime, gaining a personality of its own. The film follows Chrisantha over a period of a year as he prepares for the birth of two new lives. One is his inspiration and first daughter Frida, the other, we hope, will be the awakening of his robot NAO. We follow this journey through the day to day life of Chrisantha and his girlfriend and mother to be, Dr. Vera Vasas. As Chrisantha struggles intellectually and morally to bring his robot to life, he and Vera must deal with the impending birth of their first child, with the simple joys and disagreements of daily life taking on incredible significance in the shadow of this unnerving invention.