Director's Statement

Marriage Unplugged marked several firsts for us: our first UK shoot with an entirely new crew, our debut comedy script, the first time we’ve directed intimacy scenes and worked with an intimacy coordinator, and while we’ve worked on many sci-fi scripts, it’s the first sci-fi we’ve directed.

 

An early scene in our film also depicts a first time. The couple tries to have sex with their newly purchased robot. There’s a lot of nervousness involved, when you do something for the first time. Communication is usually lacking. In our experience miscommunication is one of the most tragicomic things that can happen in a relationship. That’s what the film is really about, the loss of communication in a marriage. 

 

The robot serves as a metaphor for external factors couples use in attempts to salvage their broken relationships, such as having children, exploring open relationships, or overusing technology like smartphones to evade confrontation.Yet, the robot's ability to adapt to each partner's desires splits him into two entirely different beings. We loved the irony in that. The tool that was meant to bring them closer together, becomes a manifestation of their differences.

 

Our goal is to disarm people with laughter and then catch them off guard with the drama. Ultimately, once the film concludes, we hope viewers will reflect on how they communicate in relationships.

​