Never Happened (2015)

Never Happened Poster

A pair of business travellers have an affair and decide it might be easiest to just forget about it.

Introduction
"Never Happened" is a short movie released in 2015, composed and directed by Mark Slutsky. The story is a thought-provoking take on the crossway of technology, morality, and human desires. It skillfully explores the implications of technology that can modify personal history, analyzing how individuals might choose to use it to serve their own interests.

Plot Overview
The film is set in a contemporary world, not different to our own, but with one secret difference: there exists a technology that enables people to remove specific memories from their minds and the minds of picked others. The main focus of the film focuses on 2 characters, Laura and Michael, who are coworkers on an organization trip. A tourist attraction has been developing in between them, despite Michael having a family back home.

As Laura and Michael engage in an apparently innocent discussion over beverages at a hotel bar, it ends up being evident that there is a shared stress and unspoken desire. Eventually, their attraction leads them to cross the line-- adultery occurs. However, they are totally mindful that they have the means to erase this indiscretion from their memories permanently.

After the deed is done, Michael utilizes this controversial service to eliminate the memory of their tryst, bypassing any need for confession or guilt. Laura initially seems to consent to this plan however then reassesses. The simplicity that innovation provides is juxtaposed against the complexity of human feelings, as Laura deals with the decision to keep the memory or let it be digitally excised from her awareness.

Themes and Analysis
"Never Happened" delves into themes of morality and responsibility, putting its characters in a situation where their choices can have no permanent effects, thanks to advanced innovation. The movie questions the essence of personal growth and the role that memories, even agonizing or disgraceful ones, play in forming our identities and life choices.

The film also touches on the themes of adultery and desire, showcasing the age-old drama of conscience versus temptation, however with a contemporary, techno-thriller twist. It raises crucial questions concerning our relationship with technology: Does the capability to delete particular events from existence enhance our lives, or does it deny us of valuable life lessons?

Furthermore, "Never Happened" addresses the allure of simple services to complicated personal problems. It challenges viewers to consider the value of imperfection, mistakes, and the cumulative experiences that define human relationships. The obvious ease with which innovation assures to rectify human mistake is at chances with the nuanced and complex nature of human feelings and connections.

Conclusion
Eventually, "Never Happened" provides a narrative that is both a sci-fi parable and a character-driven drama. By the film's end, the audience is delegated contemplate the significance of memory in their own lives, the ethical implications of technology that pays for the power to modify our experiences, and the potential for abuse that accompanies such capabilities.

The movie does not clearly spell out the consequences of Laura's choice or the future of either character, however rather, leaves audiences to face these moral dilemmas. "Never Happened" is a suggestion of our present trajectory with innovation, developing parallel worlds where consequences are eluded, and how this can have deeply human implications for people and society as a whole.

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