I'M YOUR MAN Q&A | TIFF 2021

The team behind I'M YOUR MAN in conversation with TIFF in advance of its premiere at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival. Maria Schrader’s unlikely sci-fi rom-com explores human relationships through the inquisitive eyes of a cyborg. Starring Dan Stevens and Maren Eggert.

How would you react if the perfect partner were created for you — designed to respond to your every conscious or unconscious need? For scientist Alma Felser (Maren Eggert), the reaction is instant skepticism. She is reluctant when offered a job evaluating a new line of humanoid cyborgs to determine what rights they should be granted in society. She believes it takes more than millions of data points collected from the human population to make a human being. But when research funding for her cuneiform studies at Berlin’s Pergamon Museum is dangled, Alma agrees to a three-week trial with Tom (Dan Stevens), an English-accented, rumba-dancing robot who is relentlessly eager to serve one purpose: her happiness.

Writer-director Maria Schrader’s I'M YOUR MAN playfully interrogates the complexities of companionship and human interactions, as reflected back in the steely gaze of a replicant. Emotions and ego are explored through a full range of relationships: romantic, familial, professional, and, most importantly, the relationship with one’s self.

Schrader’s profound understanding of, and respect for, our internal contradictions is manifested in the relatable Alma. Conveyed with remarkable authenticity by Eggert in her Berlin Silver Bear–winning performance, the scientist’s reluctant feelings about cyborg Tom evolve ever so lightly into intimacy, in spite of his direct if perfectly charming advances (powered by the bionically good-looking Stevens of Downton Abbey fame — impressive in an entirely German-language role). It must be said: there aren’t many entrants in the sci-fi rom-com subgenre that wholly reflect the human condition. I'M YOUR MAN stands apart as exemplary.

Maria Schrader was born in Hanover and studied drama at Vienna’s Max Reinhardt Seminar. Her many acting credits include I Was On Mars (91), which she co-wrote, Burning Life (94), Aimée & Jaguar (99), The Giraffe (98), which she co-directed and co-wrote, Rosenstrasse (03), In Darkness (11), and the TV series Deutschland 83, 86, and 89 (15, 18, 20). Her work as director includes Love Life (07), which she also wrote, the miniseries Unorthodox (20), for which she won an Emmy Award, and I’m Your Man (21).

[zackzeiler]

This film is fantastic. Maria deserves more praise.

[laurenstich]

I love how director Maria Schrader lets her guard down and admits how astonishingly handsome Dan Stevens is -- where all blushed!!! So cute -- and so true!

[Annapurna]

Just finished my screening and I want my own Dan Stevens robot.

[philaeew]

Whenever Maria Schrader speaks, the other three smile a little. She's very expressive and seems like a very genuine, goodhearted person. I have no doubt that she is a great director.

[janetbeebe]

I think Dan Stevens could be taken seriously as the next James Bond.

[bev]

It only just came out last week here in France ... I LOVED it!!! Both Maren and Dan were just great, yet Dan was particularly wonderful in his role!!

[DisneyFan]

Dan Stevens was the only English actor in the role.
Last film I saw him in was Beauty And The Beast

[Annapurna]

Companion robots are here here to stay and the norm in many countries so how we treat them is important. We do not wish to create a new caste of slaves. Consciousness is not required for personhood. Wonderful film.

[SuperC]

I’m about to watch it now! And OMG the director and lead actress could be sisters they look so much alike here

[isaurasp]

Maria Schrader is so hot : flirty, beautiful curls and gorgeous smile

[CJenkinsMusicLover]

Based on a short story by Emma Braslavsky.

[Hollis_has_questions]

In other words, what will be the legal status of this big company’s marketing gimmick. But Tom irl is more than the sum of his parts, isn’t he.

ETA: Maybe Tom is an Aspie, like me. No filters. I believe that Michelangelo always left an imperfection in each of his sculptures.

[annette]

I think Alma was very much about finding out about herself, and about humans. This interview makes the film sound less interesting than it actually is.