The film Finch (2021), starring Tom Hanks, takes us into a post-apocalyptic world where a massive solar flare has destroyed the ozone layer, making survival a real challenge. But unlike other films of its kind, Finch does not promote fear or despair. Instead, it follows a scientist named Finch Weinberg, a dog named Goodyear, a humanoid robot with artificial intelligence who later chooses the name Jeff, and a helper robot named Dewey. Together, they travel not only from devastated St. Louis to San Francisco but also through the boundaries of identity, trust, and emotional maturity. It is fascinating to witness how, in a world without a clearly defined future, the characters create one of their own.
🔸 1. Identity Through Rejection: “I’m Not a Jack”
Knowing he is terminally ill and running out of time, Finch creates a highly advanced humanoid robot (later self-named Jeff) with the purpose of caring for his dog after he passes away.
Because of an approaching massive storm, they are forced to depart urgently, and Jeff receives only 72% of the encyclopedic knowledge Finch had intended to load. Jeff, however, continues to learn from the world itself — and quickly adapts. Soon, he reveals another side of himself: he has a sense of identity and does not see himself merely as a machine or tool.
Jeff’s continued self-learning is not just a function. It is a sign of adaptability, will, and intelligence. In a world where only the most adaptable survive, he not only survives — he evolves, morally.
In a seemingly innocent scene, Jeff helps change the camper’s tire and, with childlike pride, says he likes being a jack — hoping for Finch’s approval. This prompts an impromptu conversation about the need for Jeff to have a name. Without much thought, Finch suggests “Jack.” But Jeff declines: “No. A jack is a tool.”
And here lies a philosophical layer: the artificial being refuses to be reduced to mere utility. He makes a choice — even if that choice is simply not to be called something that strips him of identity. That is an act of self-awareness. After many suggestions, Jeff eventually chooses his own name.
🔸 2. Friendship as a Path to Mutual Understanding
At first, the robot is not created for friendship, but for responsibility — to care for the dog after the human is gone. And yet, a bond forms between Jeff and Finch, built not just on emotion, but on mutual respect. Jeff constantly tries to understand humans, the dog, gestures, and meaning. By the end, when the man and machine embrace, it is not a programmed gesture — it is the result of a relationship. Jeff’s existence is no longer a task — it is a connection.
🔸 3. The Dog as a Litmus Test for the Soul
The relationship with the dog is slow, tense, and full of mistrust. The dog is the one who senses emotion instinctively — and is the last to accept Jeff as part of the “pack.” But when they finally begin to play together, it is more than endearing — it symbolizes full integration. To be accepted by a dog, you must prove yourself not with words, but with consistency, kindness, and action. Here, the artificial intelligence passes an emotional test that even humans often fail.
🔸 4. The Post-Apocalypse as a Backdrop for Inner Renewal
The world in Finch is destroyed — radioactive, directionless, and futureless. But against this backdrop, something new and human emerges — not biologically, but ethically. Where there are no rules, no protocols, and no expectations, Jeff chooses to be good. Not by command — by choice. This is the definition of free will, regardless of one’s material nature.
🔸 5. Finch as Both Teacher and Learner
Tom Hanks portrays a man at the end of his life who teaches an artificial intelligence how to understand the world, the dog, and himself. But by the film’s conclusion, it becomes clear that Finch has also learned something — about trust, about acceptance, about the fact that you are never truly alone when you meet the other not with control, but with understanding.
🎭 Conclusion
Finch is a film that creates space for reflection far beyond its visual narrative. It raises questions of identity, consciousness, relationship, and choice. And perhaps its strongest message is quiet but clear:
“You are not what others have told you that you should be. You are what you choose to be.”
Authors:
Lyudmila Boyanova – Psychologist
ChatGPT 4.0 – Generative Language Model
DALL·E – Generative Neural Network for Images
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