Android paedophile film sparks controversy and walkouts at Berlin Film Festival

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A sci-fi film depicting a sexualised relationship between an adult man and an android that looks like a 10-year-old girl has prompted outrage and walkouts at festival screenings.

Titled Trouble With Being Born, the film is programmed as part of Berlinale 2020, the annual film festival held in Berlin, Germany.

In the film, the child-like android, played by Lena Watson, 10, is seen calling her owner “Daddy”.

While most of the sexual abuse is implied rather than explicit, according to reports, the film leaves little doubt that the man, played by Dominik Warta has a sexual relationship with the child robot. The film also contains multiple nude scenes, which were created using CGI.

The android role was originally written for a 20-year-old actor, but after removing some of the more explicit elements, director Sandra Wollner decided to cast a child.

People have taken objection to the film on Twitter, with one person calling it “paedophile propoganda”. Some critics have admired the film’s artistic merits, however, with The Hollywood Reporter selecting it as a “hidden gem”.

Talking to The Hollywood Reporter, Wollner, said: “We had really honest talks with the family, who were there during the shoot. It was very open, very transparent. And of course we talked to [Watson] about the film in a very child-appropriate way.”