The film titled “2035 Global Ban on AI”, also recognized as “AI Can Pass Through the Dark Clouds” in Chinese, is a science-fiction drama released in 2025. The film was written, directed, and co-edited by Cui Xiwei, with Dang Jinghe serving as the producer. It is a 93-minute movie in Cantonese originating from Macau, highlighted in the 2025 Industry Screening segment of the FIRST Youth Film Festival as a completed project after being chosen as a work in progress by FIRST and the Macau International Film Festival.
Cui, an alumnus of Macau University of Science and Technology, has a background in film production. Prior works include “Every Bus With Your Lover”, showcased at international film festivals in Moscow, Beijing, and Rhode Island, and the short film “Let’s Drink the Wine”, selected by various film festivals. The themes of fragmented storytelling and intimate relationships explored in previous works are expanded in this film through a blend of romance, fantasy, and political undertones.
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In the film’s narrative, set in 2035, artificial intelligence is not only forbidden but eradicated from public memory, creating a society where any mention of its existence is perilous. The plot revolves around two women in a romantic relationship who find themselves at odds over “Flamingo”, an AI program that should have vanished along with all remnants of the technology. As Flamingo impacts the lives of five women, the quest for this forbidden software intertwines with themes of memory, desire, and emotional reliance.
The most striking aspect is its approach to exploring artificial intelligence through absence rather than abundance. By envisioning a future where AI is outlawed and erased from historical records, Cui delves into the repercussions of this eradication on humanity and questions of authority over technological and social history preservation.
The narrative acquires a political dimension as it mirrors authoritarian regimes that obliterate unwanted ideas and memories. Flamingo symbolizes more than a banned program; it represents an alternative history challenge to the authorities’ control over reality. The film intertwines this erasure of AI with personal memory, portraying the evolving relationship between the two central women amidst themes of suppression, revision, and transformation of emotional experiences.
Visually, the film excels with its dynamic cinematography, seamlessly transitioning between different emotional and temporal contexts, while the choice to have both black-and-white and color works particularly well. Scenes as the one in the aquarium and a number of long shots, will definitely stay on mind. Performances by Yujie Chen and the ensemble cast contribute to the film’s emotional depth, maintaining a sense of authenticity throughout.
In conclusion, “2035 Global Ban on AI” is a visually captivating and thematically compelling science-fiction narrative that contemplates technology through absence rather than presence. Despite some narrative shortcomings, the film offers poignant reflections on memory, loss, and societal control, making it a poignant exploration of the aftermath of selective historical erasure.
