Film Review: What makes us human?

The faces of people from various countries are shown alternately. Starting from Pape from Senegal, then Samantha from the USA, Prasad from India, Peter from New Guinea and many more. These people are shown only as far as their faces with a black background. Then the screen changes to a vast expanse of the desert in Pakistan. People are seen walking in the desert side by side accompanied by several livestock. The view taken from above then becomes a sign that the film entitled "Human" will begin. The documentary film released on September 12, 2015 was initiated by Yann Arthus-Bertrand, a French environmentalist, journalist and photographer.

Love?

Tears suddenly came out, as if Leonard could no longer hold them back. This black American man told of often hurting others for the sake of love, a message that he had misinterpreted all this time. Even with his actions, he had to go to prison. However, one day he met Agnes who changed his life. Agnes is the mother and grandmother of Patricia and Chris. What made Leonard cry was the fact that Agnes did not hate him at all, because Leonard had killed Patricia and Chris. For Agnes, that was already in the past. This made Leonard realize that love is not shown by hurting.

The screen changes, from above the heights of the Kenyan plains, birds are seen flying freely. A beautiful panorama is displayed, and then the screen changes again with the faces of other people. The natural landscape taken from above seems to be a marker of the change of theme that will be told next from the faces of the people shown.

Daniel from Mexico said that love comes and goes. Then Petronila from the Dominican Republic said that when there is no love in your life, you will feel empty. Juan Vecente, who is also from the Dominican Republic, said it was different. Laughing, he explained that after love, sex will appear, when that doesn't happen, the relationship will definitely be destroyed. Aicha, a woman from Senegal, said it was different. She said that her husband had two wives, and she was the first wife. However, a happy expression radiated from her face because they lived peacefully, even though Aicha lived with her best friend who was also her husband's wife. Then another screenshot showed Nar, a woman from Burma with her hair tied back. With teary eyes, she said, "don't hurt me, what do you want, tell me my weaknesses and I will change". As if she wanted to convey those words to her husband. Nar cried when she saw a married couple aged around 60-70 years still holding each other, while she was not happy with her current situation.

Human Race?

A group of men are seen in a large area of garbage in the Dominican Republic. They are seen scavenging through garbage, perhaps also seeking fortune there. Then the picture shows Atman from Haiti, a man with dreadlocks, who emphasized that he is poor. Poverty for him is when he should go to school, but can't. When he should eat, but can't, even when he should sleep but can't. With that, he feels poor, both physically and mentally because he can't provide a decent life for his wife and children. After that Atman said, for the rich people who see this, what do you want to say about wealth?

The image then switches to Liliana from Russia, a woman who looks full of makeup. Her hair is blonde, her lips are emphasized with red lipstick, her eyes are not free from various scratches of color and her ears are wearing quite large earrings. She said that with money you can do anything. You will not worry about anything, you will feel free. Then your life will feel more comfortable and better. Similar to Liliana, Haiyan from China also said that being rich is you have freedom. She even said that she doesn't need a job anymore to make money.

But another story is seen from Robert. A man from Canada admitted that he felt less happy with a lot of money. Robert also realized that when you have a lot of money, you want more. Then his expression changed, he cried. Even though he had a lot of money, he was still sad because he could not provide medicine for his sick child, not because he could not afford it, but because the medicine was not available. When Robert was worried about the lack of medicine for his child, in other parts of the world, such as Armadou from Senegal, he was more worried about not being able to eat tomorrow. Armadou admitted that he always worked for tomorrow. Then what if he was sick? That question always loomed in his life. From his poverty, he had to lose his sister and three brothers. They died of illness, and he could not afford the hospital. Indeed, God is the only one who determines, but their deaths were caused by poverty, said Armadou, while crying.

That picture might make Stephen from Australia feel a little sad. During his life journey, he realized that humans are ultimately described in two words, namely thanks and please. These two words are the concept of receiving and giving that humans must do before doing something based on money. But now, we do not give or share anything, and in the end we will kill each other. This is the Human Race. We deny the existence of other people's homes, what other people eat, this is purely because of money.

Then the image switches back to a panorama from above, a slum beach scene in Haiti with many fishing boats there. Also visible are dense and slum settlements. Then the image switches to the USA. The expanse of skyscrapers, sparkling lights, and work spaces visible behind the glass of the building give the impression of luxury of a city. The two landscapes presented in sequence seem to be giving a picture of how the gap in human life is real.

Humanity?

A group of men and women mix and crowd a pool. They then cheer as the water in the pool waves. That's the atmosphere in a wave pool in China. Elsewhere, in South Korea, a mass wedding is seen being held. The groom wearing a black suit and the woman wearing a white dress then cheer happily while throwing a series of flowers. Then in a football stadium, supporters of the Borusia Dortmund club in Germany are cheering for their favorite club to compete. Then, the picture changes to a group of soldiers lining up in various military uniforms. There are armed troops, then there are other troops lining up that show a female platoon. This is a picture taken in India.

After that, a middle-aged woman cried. When she was little, she had to see her parents taken away by unknown people, then she ran, searched, and found her mother killed with a bayonet. Then she was dragged into the forest by three people. Kmher Rouge and raped. She never forgot the incident. This incident then made Sovath, a woman from Cambodia cry while telling her story.

In another part of the world, Qosay, a man from Jordan, was asked by his son. Why is there a war? Why did he kill soldiers, don't soldiers also have families waiting for them at home just like us? Then Qosay answered that they were wrong, we were right. Then his son asked again, "Why Dad?". Qosay answered that they killed many families and children. They destroyed many mosques, and what we did was to defend them. We have to do that, not because we want to. I don't like it if there is other people's blood on my hands, that's what Qosay said. This story then continues to Yossef, a man who still looks like a teenager and even says, "I'm not afraid to die". I'm not afraid because this is for Syria. For him, this struggle is for his father. If his father hadn't died, maybe he would have been afraid, but now Yossef is no longer afraid, even though his throat was cut and he had difficulty breathing. With a firm tone, this story came out of the mouth of a teenager who lives in a war zone.

In another region, Sylver and Beatrice from Rwanda tell their stories. Sylver, a young man will never forget the fact that one person killed another with a machete. That incident happened to him, with teary eyes, he told that one time he had to see his family cut up alive. Then Beatrice told about the genocide that hurt her heart. This adult woman told that she had to run and be separated from her family. After being separated, she had to live alone until one day she was found by someone else, and that person told the others to execute her. Luckily Beatrice was still able to escape and survive. But what still bothers her in her life is, what was her mistake that she had to be shot or killed? Not only in Rwanda, in the Central African Republic, Crepin admitted to becoming an anti-balaka soldier to avenge her brother. When she killed someone, she felt like she was shooting her anger and when she shot him, she felt a sense of peace.

From the various tragic stories above, even people are willing to kill for revenge, there is another story that has changed his view of war. The next story is from Caleb who comes from the USA. His eyes met deeply with someone, and that moment is one that Caleb will never forget in a war incident in Iraq. At that time, in Caleb's view, the person who was making eye contact with him was not a terrorist, not a rebel, or an Iraqi, he was just a scared person. In his fear he told Caleb to ask for help. That incident changed Caleb, from being brave on the battlefield to a slightly scared man. Even Peter, a person from the USA also told what would be left behind from a battle is the feeling of how fellow humans kill each other. This condition then made him keep weapons in his house. So far his life has been filled with worry and fear that someone will come to hurt him.

On January 16, 2007, a line of Israeli soldiers shot and killed his 10-year-old daughter, Abir. She was killed in front of her school in Anath, where she lived. With a trembling voice and a determination that he tried to express on his face, Bassam from Palestine said that his daughter Abir was just a child, and she was not part of this conflict. She was just unlucky, and she died just because she was Palestinian. So if I kill an Israeli, will I get my child back? Bassem firmly answered the question he had asked himself, “no,” was his answer. If he killed, it would only cause more pain by committing violence against others. Therefore, he ended this cycle of violence and did not kill for revenge for himself. Many people told him that it was not the right move for Bassem to give up on behalf of his child. But once again, he firmly answered that he would not take revenge on behalf of his child.

In another story, an elderly woman, Ruth, who came from Israel, told a story. When she was two and a half years old, she was taken by a German officer in an SS uniform, who she later learned was Alois Pleva. The man took her to the German-Polish border, hidden in his coat. She was taken to the man's parents who then raised her in the Catholic tradition until the end of the war.

The stories above seem to want to convey the picture that war will never end if it has to be answered with war. Although this is only a subjective assessment of the audience, the next scene in Spain shows that togetherness is joy. In a ritual, a group of men form a circle that holds a group of women in the middle of the circle to climb and form a tower. As soon as the human tower is formed, everyone cheers, and even hugs each other.

Happiness?

She was forced by her parents to go to the doctor because she was considered sick. This incident happened because Nombusa, a woman from South Africa, admitted to being a lesbian. Her condition was very unacceptable to her family, especially her grandmother who hated lesbians, which happened to be the condition that befell her. She never got her grandmother's blessing to become a lesbian until she finally brought a man. Nombusa realized that her decision did not make her happy, but her actions were only to please her grandmother. In the end, she married the man and then after some time they divorced. What Nombusha regretted even more was that the man left and left AIDS in her.

Then in another story, a little girl with curly hair tied back said that someone once told her, she would never have a husband. That person said no one would ever want to marry her because she had HIV AIDS. While crying, Maimona, this little girl from Senegal also said that maybe those words were true that no man would ever love her when she said she was infected with the HIV AIDS virus. In addition to this sad story, Bara, an adult man who also came from Senegal said that he was happy living with his wife. This condition is because even though he has leprosy, he has never been left by his wife. One time he found out that his wife was being teased by other people by calling her the wife of a leper. Then Bara's wife laughed and said, "I am proud to be the wife of a leper". Those words, which came out of his wife's mouth, Bara will never forget and even become his life's motivation.

In another region, Katjiikua, a brown-skinned woman with typical Namibian hair, said that what makes her happy is when it rains. Because that's when she can drink milk and eat something she likes. Elsewhere, Prasad from India said that happiness for her is when she has food and has 5 katha of land or 650m2. Then a place to sleep and electricity to provide light for her children. In Russia, a mother named Elena said that happiness for her is when her child comes to visit, or when her husband comes smiling and kisses her. Because, when Elena comes to her mother's house, she sees that her mother is smiling and that is happiness for her. It's different for Rute from Brazil who said that having a place to live, a washing machine, or her 15-year-old child finishing school and continuing to practice and learn for his life are some examples of happiness for her.

Inequality?

After telling some expressions of sadness and happiness, then the expanse of green rice fields from the land in Ethiopia, Madagascar, China, and Nepal is seen. From the rice field landscape, the scene then shifts to people who live not far from the area. Demekech who comes from Ethiopia lives from the vegetables she grows. She eats the vegetables and some are sold by her husband, even though the pay is very little. On the other hand, Raelison who comes from Madagascar also tells that his life is difficult when his crops are hit by hail, or Sophy from Cambodia who rebukes a company that destroys her house and crops, which also ruins her life.

In the midst of the green rice fields that look fertile and prosperous, it turns out that many people do not get the results of this prosperity. Many people have to struggle to live in the midst of the green rice field landscape. This is even illustrated by the stories of people in India. The problem there is not the vast area of fields, but the drought. What's the point of having vast fields if there is no water? However, what caught Sainath's attention from India was the severe drought that occurred in western Maharastra. He clearly saw poverty, but he also saw a magnificent development there. The area was very dry, but there was a large development with swimming pools on each floor, namely the Twin Towers in Mumbai. The buildings each consist of 37 floors, meaning that if these two buildings were standing there would be 74 swimming pools provided in a very dry area. Sadly, the construction workers were farmers who were experiencing a drought, but on the other hand they were building swimming pools. This, according to Sinath, was like an insult. In India, the fastest development is not software or the technology industry, but inequality.

Human?

From the stories of the people above, then what do you want to convey? This question clearly has different answers depending on the imagination of each audience. What is happiness, each person has their own way of expressing it. Is it by having a lot of money? Some answered yes, but some answered no like Robert from Canada. Then, various expressions of sadness are also depicted in this film. The people shown have different levels of sadness. Some are sad because they witnessed the tragic death of their family, were raped, or were left by their partners. From a series of different depictions of people from different regions, then what should humans be like?

Referring to Socrates' conception of man, we cannot uncover human nature in the same way as we try to detect nature. Physical objects can indeed be explained based on their subjective nature, while humans can only be explained through their consciousness (Cassirer, 1990:9). Then what kind of consciousness should humans have? There is no necessity or non-necessity for humans to do. The eternal order of humans is influenced by the power of human judgment itself. Through this power of judgment, humans become the main source of truth and morality (Cassirer, 1990:13). For Sonam, a woman from India, she emphasized that she lives in this world to give birth to one or two children, so that when she is old there will be someone to take care of her. For Jonathan, a young man from America who began to ask himself about life at the age of 15, he explained that everyone has their own purpose in life. So what is the purpose of human life?

Again, it is difficult to explain what should be done. Is it like Jonathan's story above who believes that what humans should do is to be happy, do the right thing, and help others? One measuring tool to see human nature might be religion, although religion can also be disputed, but with this lens at least humans do not trust and listen to themselves. With religion, humans become dual humans who fall into a system of right and wrong, sin and not sin, so that with that he will look for a mirror for something he believes in (Cassirer, 1990:19).

Perhaps that is what Samuel, a little boy from the Democratic Republic of Congo, is also looking for. He believes that his presence on this earth is to do what God has planned for him. For him, everyone on this earth has a mission from God, and so does he. However, he still does not know what mission God has given him. For Nietzsche, the image of humans is to rule. According to Freud, humans indicate sexual instincts, or like Marx who assumes that humans are those who are instinctively economic (Cassirer, 1990:33). These views are not entirely wrong. Thinkers are trying to argue their own empiricism about what is human being. So what is human? Humans are ultimately declared as creatures who are continuously searching for themselves, creatures who must at all times test and carefully examine the conditions of their existence. (Cassirer, 1990:10).

As shown in this film, the landscape and stories of people from various parts of the world are to provide a picture of the story of human life, as well as to serve as a dialectic material about what should be studied from a number of ways of life experienced by the people shown. They become a mirror for other people to continue the process of searching for themselves as humans.

HUMAN The Movie (Director's cut version) has a duration of 3 hours 11 minutes 5 seconds, but the Human film that I am reviewing this time is extended version which is divided into three volumes. The total duration of the three volumes is 4 hours 23 minutes 6 seconds.

Bibliography

Cassirer, Ernst. “Man and Culture: An Essay on Man”. Translated by Alois A. Nugroho. Jakarta: Gramedia. 1990.