Working at large companies can be very attractive, especially at the large IT companies in Silicon Valley that have an extensive campus where food is free, you can do all sorts of other activities during working hours and which seem to be place you would want to spend a lot of time. Places where the term “9 to 5” does not seem to apply. In this film The Circle is such a company, led by Eamon Bailey (Tom Hanks). It is huge and for many it is a dream to work there. Mae Holland (Emma Watson) does not work there, but is approached by a friend (who has a high position). She is allowed to apply and manages to get the job. She is a call center employee and must work hard to achieve the highest possible score.
Soon she is approached by colleagues telling her that although she is working hard, she does not actually put much of her own information on her The Circle profile and does not participate enough in optional activities and has not been present at all during the weekends. The Circle unveils their new product SeeChange, a camera that does not stand out and can be attached anywhere. The goal is to be transparent about everything, so that people no longer have anything to hide. In the end, Mae decides to be the first employee to be completely transparent, constantly streaming her life. It makes her famous. But she discovers that this way of life also has negative aspects that not only have an impact on her, but also on the people around her.
Somewhere in the story of The Circle a fascinating film is hiding, but the reality is that it can not be found in the end result. The film seems to want to deal with too many subjects, so that none really have the intended impact. Privacy, corruption, family ties, performance, rivalry, jealousy, rebellion and friendship are all addressed, but because everything is touched on so briefly, at the end of the film you have no idea what the message of the movie is. Characters, such as the girlfriend who helps Mae get the job, suddenly change or become so minimized (the role of John Boyega) that you wonder why they did not end up on the cutting room floor during editing. The end result is a frustrating viewing experience, despite the fact that visually it all looks very slick. This is probably a good example where the book is probably much better than the film.
