Quartile rating: 8/10 · 1 rating
A collection of stories about and images of our world, offering an immersion to the core of what it means to be human. Through these stories full of love and happiness, as well as hatred and violence, it brings us face to face with the Other, making us reflect on our lives. From stories of everyday experiences to accounts of the most unbelievable lives, these poignant encounters share a rare sincerity and underline who we are – our darker side, but also what is most noble in us, and what is universal. Our Earth is shown at its most sublime through never-before-seen aerial images accompanied by soaring music, resulting in an ode to the beauty of the world, providing a moment to draw breath and for introspection. This film is a politically engaged work which allows us to embrace the human condition and to reflect on the meaning of our existence.
Yann Arthus-Bertrand's 'Human' is a visually stunning documentary that pairs intimate first-person testimonies with breathtaking aerial photography. The acting category here reflects the extraordinary authenticity and emotional power of the real people sharing their stories — many accounts are genuinely arresting and moving. The cinematography is legitimately exceptional, with sweeping aerial sequences that rival the best nature documentary work ever committed to film. Novelty is solid but not outstanding — the format of combining talking-head confessionals with landscape imagery has precedent (Arthus-Bertrand's own 'Home'), and the thematic ambition sometimes outpaces its structural coherence. The plot, as a loosely organized anthology, lacks narrative propulsion and can feel repetitive across its lengthy runtime. The ending, while emotionally resonant, doesn't deliver a culminating insight beyond what the film has already offered.