Disconnect Me: Enjoy watching someone unravel without a smart phone

Disconnect Me: Enjoy watching someone unravel sans a smart phone

Cast: Alex Lykos, Wajiha Ahmed, Manish Shah, Denielle Einstein, Dale Merchant, Tim Stackpool, Amanda Third, Catriona Wallace, Toby Walsh, Michael Kane, Oliver Atkins, Chritina Atkins, Angelina Castelli, Afrodite Castelli, Ubu Wilson Wouters, Janette Lakiss, Gita Irwin, Gerasimos Louverdis, Myra Lykos

Critic’s Rating: 4 Stars out of 5

Director: Alex Lykos

Duration: 1 hour 26 minutes

Genre: Documentary, Comedy

Language: English, Greek

Release Date: 2023

What’s it about?

A writer/filmmaker sees if he can survive without his smart phone while learning some shocking truths about the device and its users.  

Review:

With smart phone technology taking over our lives and with its numerous apps inundating us, is it possible to disengage and disconnect? And if so, what is the cost and compromise? That is the refreshing and interesting premise of this Australian documentary. Writer for stage and screen Alex Lykos embarks on an enlightening journey of examination and discovery, attempting to uncover the psychology driving those who obsessively depend on their modern handsets. The filmmaker also endeavours to explore the ramifications, present and future of the device, by posing probing questions to experts and lay people. He does this with flair and humour as well as poignancy and drama, making for a sumptuous viewing experience.

This analytical celluloid adventure begins with some startling facts about the volume, dependence and down-sides of smart phones in modern life. Taking a leaf out of the 2004 fast food documentary Supersize Me where the protagonist undergoes an exclusive McDonald’s diet for 30 days, Lykos decides to shut off his cell phone for a similar period. He undertakes this unusual project to see if it is possible to function, at home and at work, without his trusty accessory on hand. In preparation for this challenge, Lykos visits a sleep specialist Dr. Manish Shah for a thorough body check up, which in turn reveals a slightly worrying diagnosis. 

Next, our hero stocks up on some old-world physical appliances to substitute for their counterpart features on his phone. As we join Lykos in discovering all the complications that unfold due to his “disconnection”, we also get to hear views from professionals about the smart phone phenomena gripping society. These include Artificial Intelligence scientist Toby Walsh who posits that bereft of the device, one wouldn’t be able to avail of basic government services while the globe’s business apparatus would completely break down.

Among the other featured experts are clinical psychologist Danielle Einstein; socio-cultural research professor Amanda Third; and school physical education teacher Michael Kane. All of these persons offer their insights based on their respective observations, studies and experience. Lykos proceeds to delve deeper into the subject by directly and doggedly questioning high school students like Oliver and Angelina, who indicate that without constant cell-phone connectivity they feel lonely and are “missing out”. 

Lykos also elucidates the nefarious agenda of advertisers on social media platforms to feed off youngsters' addictiveness and insecurities. Then, the filmmaker stumbles upon some people who have relinquished their smart phones like school student Uru and radio presenter Janette Lakiss.  Next, Lykos questions where smart phone technology is headed by eliciting the informed opinions of research professor Dr. Catriona Wallace and media professional Mr. Timothy Stackpool, who both envision the merging of humanity and machinery. Meanwhile, Lykos’ self-inflicted deprivation of mobile phone access takes its toll on his personal and professional life.

Among the film's minor blemishes is the repetitive and obvious nature of some of the views offered. There are also brief segments that drag a little and could have benefited from tighter editing. Still, it is evident that Lykos has crafted an important and engaging documentary, interspersing informative sound bytes, relevant news and trivia, robust conversations and a sumptuous b-roll of visuals. There are even interludes where he invites the audience’s participation. And there is no denying that Lykos’ voluble Greek-speaking father (Myra Lykos), who alternates between being endearing and irreverent, has the last word! Indeed, even Lykos’ wife (Wahida Ahmed) doesn’t have a patch on the old man.