The Beasts

The film primarily unfolds in 2044, a near-future era where AI manages jobs and a DNA purification process exists. Interleaved are past-life sequences set in 1910 France and 2014 Los Angeles, revealing Gabrielle's memories and fears across centuries. The narrative weaves these timelines together to explore how memory and emotion shape identity and choices.

The action travels across diverse settings: a near-future Earth (2044) centered on a DNA purification center and a nightclub that shifts decade-themed aesthetics, and flashbacks to earlier eras. In 1910 France, Gabrielle is an acclaimed pianist who owns a doll-making factory with her husband Georges; in 2014 Los Angeles, she is an underemployed model and actress. The locations anchor the story's themes of memory, longing, and the search for meaning across time.

💔 Emotions vs Logic

The purification process aims to purge emotions to fit an AI-driven society, yet memories of love and fear reveal the depth of human feeling. Gabrielle’s experiences argue that emotional texture is essential to meaningful relationships and personal drive. The film questions whether removing emotions truly enhances rational capability or dulls the self.

🤖 AI Control

AI governs labor and personal futures, deeming many humans unfit for advanced roles. The purification procedure becomes a tool of governance, measuring worth by cognitive and emotional criteria. The story critiques overreliance on technology to define worth, agency, and desire.

🔁 Past Lives

Gabrielle’s memories span 1910 and 2014, suggesting recurring fears and longings across eras. The uncanny medium hints at a shared thread guiding their fates, linking past trauma to present choices. The juxtaposition of old tragedies with present longing emphasizes how memory shapes identity.