Conceiving Ada (1999): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1999, Conceiving Ada is a fantasy, drama and science fiction film directed by Lynn Hershman-Leeson, running about 85 minutes.

What it’s about. Emmy Coer, a computer genius, devises a method of communicating with the past by tapping into undying information waves. She manages to reach the world of Ada Lovelace, founder of the idea of a computer language and proponent of the possibilities of the "difference engine." Ada's ideas were stifled and unfulfilled because of the reality of life as a woman in the nineteenth century. Emmy has a plan to defeat death and the past using her own DNA as a communicative agent to the past, bringing Ada to the present. But what are the possible ramifications?

Who’s in it. Conceiving Ada stars Tilda Swinton as Ada Augusta Byron King, Countess of Lovelace, Francesca Faridany as Emmy Coer, Timothy Leary as Sims and Karen Black as Lady Byron / Mother Coer, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 4.3/10, Conceiving Ada has proved divisive with audiences.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Conceiving Ada page.

If you liked it. Fans of Conceiving Ada tend to enjoy The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The Green Mile, Spirited Away and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.