The Circle

Mae Holland secures a job at The Circle, a leading tech and social media company, thanks to her friend Annie. Her excitement, however, is mixed with anxiety as she faces a demanding interview and her new workplace's high expectations.

Initially, Mae struggles to meet the performance standards set by The Circle, particularly her mid-90s satisfaction scores. Under the guidance of her supervisor, Jared, she learns that adapting will take time, as she is slowly introduced to the company's culture.

Mae's relationship with her lifelong friend Mercer becomes strained as he expresses concern about her new job. Although he secretly harbors feelings for her, he is afraid to confront them and begins to worry about the changes in Mae since joining The Circle.

At a company meeting, CEO Eamon Bailey reveals the disruptive SeeChange technology, designed to enhance transparency through live video monitoring. This announcement stirs excitement and controversy about privacy and ethics within the company.

Mae rapidly rises through the ranks of The Circle as she fully embraces its culture and policies. She integrates her personal and professional social media, feeling pressure to maintain her public persona and keep her personal life visible.

As part of her job, Mae is fitted with a health monitoring sensor and wristband, highlighting the invasive nature of The Circle's approach to employee wellness. This development raises concerns for Mae, especially regarding how her employer intrudes into her personal life.

With her growing responsibilities at The Circle, Mae becomes increasingly neglectful of her home life. This becomes painfully clear when Mercer is forced to assist her ailing father, indicating that Mae's commitment to work is taking precedence over her family obligations.

As The Circle promotes extreme measures for safety, Mae finds herself swept up in the firm's ethos of accountability. Her drive for transparency culminates in her decision to share her life through constant video streaming, which deteriorates her most cherished relationships.

The pressure of transparency and public scrutiny leads to a horrific outcome when Circle users mistakenly track down Mercer, believing their actions are justified. His tragic death serves as a wake-up call for Mae about the consequences of unchecked technology and societal voyeurism.

Devastated by Mercer's death, Mae seeks to reconnect with Annie, who has distanced herself from The Circle. Despite her parents' concerns, Mae clings to the hope that returning to the company will help her process her grief and regain a sense of control.

Mae confronts Eamon and Tom, advocating for transparency and rejecting the notion of secrecy. Her boldness leads to a chaotic board meeting where she reveals confidential information, causing embarrassment and disrupting the company’s image.

In a dark auditorium, Mae experiences a transformation, empowered by the support of those who believe in her cause. She reclaims her autonomy against the invasive monitoring of technology, determined not to let the company dictate her life.

Emboldened by her conviction against the culture of over-surveillance, Mae resumes kayaking, a hobby she had abandoned. This symbolic act represents her return to a life of personal freedom and the decision to step away from the all-seeing gaze of The Circle.