Eternal You (2024)
A documentary confronting the AI-powered industry promising to keep the dead alive — and the grief-stricken people who turn to it.
Eternal You - Movie Information
- Original Title: Eternal You
- Release Year: 2024
- Directed by: Moritz Riesewick, Hans Block
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Documentary
- Runtime: 1h 27m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English, Korean
- Release Date (Theatrical): June 20, 2024 (Germany), June 28, 2024 (United Kingdom - 15), June 20, 2024 (Spain - 16)
- Production Companies: Impact Partners, Motto Pictures, Beetz Brothers Film Production, WDR, NDR, BR, RBB, SWR, SRF, SRG SSR, VPRO, Docmine, ARTE, ORF, NRK, Creative Europe Media, Concordia Studio
- Production Countries: Germany, Netherlands, United States of America
Eternal You - Plot
Startups are using AI to create avatars that allow relatives to talk with their loved ones after they have died. An exploration of a profound human desire and the consequences of turning the dream of immortality into a product.
Eternal You - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see the haunting world of digital afterlife unfold:
What if you never had to say goodbye?
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Eternal You - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Moritz Riesewick
- Hans Block
Producers
- Christian Beetz
- Georg Tschurtschenthaler
Eternal You - FAQs
What is Eternal You about?
Eternal You examines AI startups building chatbots and digital avatars that simulate deceased loved ones, letting the living continue conversations with the dead. The documentary probes the emotional, ethical, and commercial dimensions of turning grief into a product, questioning what it truly means to say goodbye.
Does Eternal You take a stance on AI grief technology?
Rather than delivering a verdict, the film lets its subjects speak for themselves — grieving users, tech entrepreneurs, and ethicists. The result is a nuanced portrait that leaves viewers wrestling with the question themselves, making it all the more unsettling and thought-provoking.
Where can you watch Eternal You?
You can rent or buy Eternal You on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It's also available to stream for free on Kanopy, which is accessible through many public libraries and universities.
Is Eternal You based on real companies and people?
Yes, the documentary features real AI companies — including HereAfter AI and StoryFile — and real people who have used these services to reconnect with deceased relatives. The filmmakers spent years following these individuals, grounding the film in genuine human experience rather than speculation.
Who directed Eternal You?
Eternal You was co-directed by Hans Block and Moritz Riesewick, the German filmmaking duo also behind The Cleaners (2018), a critically acclaimed documentary about social media content moderation. Their work consistently explores the human cost of digital technology.
How was Eternal You received by critics?
Critics praised Eternal You for its emotional depth and timely subject matter. The film earned strong notices at Sundance 2024, where reviewers highlighted its ability to balance technological inquiry with genuine human tenderness, calling it one of the more essential documentaries of the AI era.
What ethical questions does Eternal You raise?
The film digs into thorny territory: Does a digital replica honor the dead or distort them? Can simulated grief delay real healing? Who profits from loss? And crucially, do the deceased have any say in how their digital likeness is used after death? These questions linger long after the credits roll.
What are similar documentaries to Eternal You?
If Eternal You resonated with you, check out The Social Dilemma (2020) for a broader look at tech's emotional toll, Coded Bias (2020) for AI ethics, Dick Johnson Is Dead (2020) for a personal take on mortality, or Lo and Behold: Reveries of the Connected World (2016) for Werner Herzog's meditation on the internet.
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