Operator 2016

In an effort to reduce expenses, the health company Welltrix decides to automate its customer service operations, which brings predictability but unfortunately eliminates the roles of human operators. Joe, portrayed by Martin Starr, is the programmer tasked with developing a voice simulation software for this purpose. However, a significant challenge arises as the script created by the software development team fails to incorporate any sense of empathy, making it less effective.

Fortunately, Joe’s wife, Emily, played by Mae Whitman, works as a concierge at a bustling Chicago hotel named the Parkside. Her daily interactions with hotel guests provide the perfect insight that Welltrix desperately needs. When Joe approaches her with the request to record her voice for his ‘answering machine/customer service representative’, she readily agrees, using her customer service expertise to infuse a touch of humanity into the script.

As their lives progress, everything appears to be functioning smoothly until Joe grows increasingly infatuated with his work. He finds himself deriving more satisfaction from interacting with his simulated wife than with Emily herself. This realization dawns on Emily, and the tension mounts, ultimately leading to their separation.

During their time apart, Emily pours herself into her passion for improv theatre, immersing herself in her performances while Joe reflects on the consequences of his choices. Eventually, he misses the real Emily and decides to attend one of her shows. In a poignant moment, Joe takes the stage and candidly admits his mistakes, expressing how much he longs for her. The film culminates in a heart-wrenching uncertainty, leaving audiences to ponder whether they will reunite or drift further apart.