S.O.S.: Spike Jonze’s Her as a Film About Object Relations and Grief

In Spike Jonze’s film ‘Her’, the protagonist Theodore embarks on a romantic relationship with Samantha, a virtual counterpart referred to as an ‘operating system’, whose artificial intelligence gains so much autonomy and development that it eventually leaves him. The narrative can be examined not only in terms of the relationship between humans and AI but also as a facilitator of the grieving process, that is, the development of a positive mental representation of something that has been lost or come to an end. This chapter explores these themes by referring to the film’s colour grading and portrayal of female characters.