Human
A sweeping, emotionally candid portrait of humanity assembled from intimate testimonies and striking aerial visions of a shared world.
Overview
A profound exploration of what it means to be human through diverse voices and experiences.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Slow
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- candid
- melancholic
- contemplative
- reflective evening
- documentary night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the documentary's unprecedented global scale, candid testimonies, and lyrical visual artistry, while some found its three-hour duration arduous and its landscape interludes aesthetically distancing.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film moves among numerous first-person stories addressing family, religion, ambition, failure, sexuality, war, and poverty.
Aerial shots infused with motion and color repeatedly contrast with close, personal accounts.
Critics specifically praised the truth and brutal honesty of the participants' stories.
The film connects diverse subjects and cultures through recurring questions about what it means to be human.
Films like Human, and why
Baraka
Global documentary scope, intimate testimony, and a humanist examination of social inequality and lived experience
Samsara
Visually expansive nonfiction filmmaking that connects individual lives with global cultures, landscapes, and spiritual traditions
Chronos
Large-scale documentary portrait of humanity combining personal stories with observational images of diverse societies
Movie Details
- Director
- Yann Arthus-Bertrand
- Release Date
- 2015-09-12
- Runtime
- 191 min
- Rating
- 8.4 / 10 (314)
Where to watch in United States
- Buy
- Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Human about?
- A sweeping, emotionally candid portrait of humanity assembled from intimate testimonies and striking aerial visions of a shared world.
- What is Human like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Human as slow, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Human violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Human as moderate.
- What did critics think of Human?
- Critics broadly praised the documentary's unprecedented global scale, candid testimonies, and lyrical visual artistry, while some found its three-hour duration arduous and its landscape interludes aesthetically distancing.
- Which films are like Human?
- Films with a similar feel include Baraka, Samsara, and Chronos.
- How long is Human?
- Human runs 191 minutes.
- Where can I watch Human?
- In United States, Human is available to rent or buy from Google Play Movies, YouTube.
