In “Crimes of the Future” (2022), directed by David Cronenberg, the story is set in a dystopian future where human bodies have adapted to a synthetic environment, leading to bizarre mutations and the need for new organs. The film centers on Saul Tenser, a performance artist who publicly showcases the metamorphosis of his organs in avant-garde performances with his partner Caprice, leveraging his condition of Accelerated Evolution Syndrome.
Throughout the film, Saul is monitored by the National Organ Registry, a government entity that keeps track of new organ developments. As the story unfolds, tensions arise between the government, groups advocating for the acceleration of human evolution, and those enforcing laws against it. Saul and Caprice become involved with the “Evolutionary Children,” a group that seeks to push human evolution to its limits.
As the narrative progresses, the film delves deeper into themes of body autonomy, the intersection of technology and biology, and the sensory experiences tied to the new organs. It explores the nature of pain and pleasure in the context of these bodily transformations.
The climax of the film reveals a complex web of interests, including a plan by the Evolutionary Children to use Saul’s fame and unique condition to showcase a radical new stage of human evolution. Saul grapples with his role in this scheme and the consequences of his performances on society’s understanding of the human body.
In the film’s conclusion, Saul undergoes another surgery to remove a new organ, once again turning it into a performance piece. The final scenes suggest that Saul will continue to explore the limits of human evolution and art, leaving viewers with an open-ended reflection on the future of humanity.
“Crimes of the Future” ends without a definitive resolution, inviting the audience to ponder the ethical boundaries of scientific progress and the potential paths of human development. The film is a provocative meditation on what it means to be human in a world where the lines between biology and technology are increasingly blurred (IMDb).