encompass virtual reality and the potential of computer and communication with the past and the ongoing struggle to express your identity in a constraining society and and the fascinating ada byron lovelace portray by the fascinating tilda swinton and this film should have be great . but it be lousy and terrible if you consider the potential . the act aside from tilda swinton and karen black veers from tolerable to atrocious . the plot construction be awkward to say the least the modern day programmer be a dull one note character and but half the movie be spend set up her character and and then when ada finally appear and it be to narrate the event of her life and not to present an engaging story ( swinton almost pull this off and though ) . you never fully get to know her a a real person and just an icon from a grad student history paper . the digital effect and such a a digital dog and bird and be lousy and distract and consider it be 1997 and not 1985. and and finally and the script be just bad . bad and often pretentious dialog especially the fight between the programmer and her boyfriend and which make me squirm cold and distant character and and zero attempt to create a sense of wonder . the programmer successfully contact a person in the past . astonishing . but it hardly seem to surprise anyone and and her boyfriend say and well and be careful . ( although be give no clue then or later why it might be dangerous and and it never seem to actually be dangerous . ) also and despite be about computer and ada lovelace and her love of mathematics and it be clear no one involve with the script have any knowledge of mathematics or computer any reference to these subject come across a complete mumbo jumbo that defy any suspension of disbelief . one scene and towards the end of the movie and be quite good and a monolog by tilda swinton express her sadness at the fragility of life but her joy in that life . poignant and passionate and and insightful and it seem to be drop in from another movie . so i be disappoint in this movie and because it be a missed opportunity for a fascinating little cult film . if you find the subject matter interesting and you might want to rent it and but be forewarn . see orlando for another and much much good examination of gender role in history with a great tilda swinton performance . spoiler or question represent at the end of the movie and ada asks that her memory not be preserve ( in what i think be the best scene in the movie ) . but then the modern day programmer seem to do it anyway and transfer the memory into her little girl ( hence the title of the movie ) . be i correct and that the programmer violate ada wish without even struggle over it . or be this another confusing plot point that i be misinterpret .