What happens when machines start taking people’s jobs? In Pranav Bhasin‘s short comedy We Were Here, three retired men decide to fight back. Instead of smashing computers or staging a protest, they become the machines themselves.
Set in a small Indian town, the 11-minute mockumentary follows Bagchi, Pimple and Ganguli as they reinvent themselves as household appliances. One becomes a dish antenna, another a microwave, while the third takes on the role of a security camera. They visit an appliance store to confuse smart devices and make homemade advertisements. It’s a wonderfully absurd rebellion.
A joke with something to say
Bhasin first imagined the story as a joke about someone trying to steal AI’s jobs. In a place where unemployment had already been a concern for years, the growing acceptance that technology would replace human workers felt disheartening. He wanted to imagine people who refused to accept that future.
The comedy works because the film never loses sight of its characters. These aren’t tech experts or action heroes. They’re three retired men whose friendship and family ties give the story its warmth. Beneath the silliness, the film asks a bigger question: in our rush towards technological progress, are we paying enough attention to the people around us?
The humans behind the uprising
Bhasin’s mockumentary style gives the film the feel of an over-the-top streaming documentary, while the performances keep it grounded. Satish Kashyap, Devendra Dodke and Arindol Bagchi bring easy chemistry to the trio, and their comic timing lands beautifully. Bhasin also encouraged improvisation, letting spontaneous moments add to the fun.
We Were Here won awards at Clermont-Ferrand, SXSW and Palm Springs ShortFest, where its wins made it eligible for the 99th Academy Awards. Andrew Scott also joined as executive producer after the film received SXSW’s Redbreast Unhidden Award.
Funny, affectionate and a little rebellious, We Were Here doesn’t pretend to have an answer to the AI debate. Instead, it reminds us that human connection, creativity and a sense of humour still belong in the conversation.
