Less and Less (2010)

One of the things about Mubi Monday that I am enjoying is that there is so much on the service that I’d never be exposed to if it weren’t for Mubi. From short films to foreign films that cover all corners of the Earth, festival darlings, and everything in between. This week I was scrolling randomly before one happened to jump out at me. That film was…Less and Less (2010).

Title: Less and Less (Toujours moins)

Director: Luc Moullet

Released: January 2, 2010 (France)

Runtime: 14 minutes

Available to stream on: Mubi (here’s a month of Mubi on me!)

Technology is all around us. Not only is it all around us, but it is also constantly evolving and changing our lives. Like it or not, it is up to us to adapt to these changes. Whether that change is for better or worse remains up for debate.

Director Luc Moullet takes us on a brief fourteen-minute tour of how technology has evolved and ingrained itself in our lives. Starting back in 1968 with the introduction of the turnstiles and going all the way through self-checkout lanes we find almost everywhere today.

All of this technological advancement is presented to assure us that change is in our best interest. We have automated pay stations at garages framed as being beneficial because the machines always dispense accurate change. Automated bank deposits are said to reduce robberies and cut down on teller-customer conversations. Possibly the wildest one, for me, was baguette vending machines. Those vending machines cost less to operate than the human staff it would require to bake and sell the bread in a storefront.

However, is everything truly as wonderful and convenient as portrayed when you remove your rose-colored technology glasses?

The short film Less and Less (2010) was both interesting and slightly strange. Although, despite only being fourteen minutes in length, it manages to make you think.

The more we allow technology to make our lives easier, the less likely we are to partake in human interaction. Self-checkout, self-service, yes, these advancements cut back on the risk of human error (although the risk of user error is still very much alive). And let’s be honest, who doesn’t like the idea and convenience of flowers, a baguette, a pizza, or even unemployment services being just a push of a button away. No awkward small talk and we all get time back in our days, even if it’s only mere seconds.

And from a business standpoint, there are financial upsides as well. Why hire a store full of employees when you can simply have a handful of employees and one or two machines?

On the other hand, while easy access to goods and services is appealing, in the end, what we truly desire transcends easily purchasable items. We, as humans, long for genuine connections shared with others. No advancement in technology will ever be able to truly replace the “mundane” interactions we have when buying a coffee, buying a ticket to a movie, or even buying groceries.

Viewing Less and Less (2010) for the first time after coming out the other side of a global pandemic might skew the messaging a bit more than had I viewed this prior to 2020. Some of the conveniences highlighted, such as self-checkout, have become things I seek out now. However, the overall message still carries weight. And with it being such a brief watch, there’s no reason for you to not give it at least one viewing.

Well, there you have it. Another Mubi Monday in the books.

But, before we go, it’s time to hear your thoughts!

If you’ve seen Less and Less (2010), I want to hear your take on it. Leave a comment below or reach out on social media and tell me all about it!

As always, you can follow me over on Letterboxd to keep up with everything else that I’ve been watching.