« Human », a film by Yann Arthus-Bertrand

Yann Arthus-Bertrand

Being keen on photography, I have always been a great admirer of world-class photographers. I first came across Yann Arthus-Bertrand many years ago. It happened at the time when I was researching on the Berbers. I still remember discovering his first aerial pictures of the Sahara. Being from Arles, France, I then became more acquainted with his photographic approach during the International Festival of Photography in Arles [RIP d'Arles]. It is worth to know that Yann Arthus-Bertrand became the first photographer - with the late Arlesian photographer Lucien Clergue - to be elected at the French Académie des Beaux Arts (Academy of Fine Arts).

His trademark is to see the Earth from above. In 2006, he published 'Algeria seen from Above'. He then continued to offer his vision from the Earth 'Vu du Ciel' (Seen from Above). Afterwards, he published many more photo-albums : the 'Earth,' 'Planet Ocean', 'Paris', 'Switzerland', to name just a few. What Yann Arthus-Bertrand's eye sees from above is not just plain photography. He captures amazing shapes and colors that he has the knack to discover on the surface of our planet. His profound admiration for the Earth has a natural consequence : the protection of our environment. And this has clearly become one of his main objectives. In 2009, he directed a documentary called 'HOME', which was produced by Luc Besson. The film shows various places on Earth also taken from above.

And this year, in 2015, he made another film called 'HUMAN' The extended version already came out on 'YouTube'. This is what I want to talk about today because it is not only another superb production but an up-to-date topic too.

This new documentary is extremely powerful. It is an artist's attempt to reveal what it takes to make us humans in our complicated diversity. The film is threefold : the images, the interviews and the music.

Armand Amaris a French composer who grew up in Morocco and who has already worked with Yann Arthus-Bertrand. The opening scenes, probably shot in Afghanistan, give the tone to the background of this movie. The voices heard singing and the ongoing music serve the beauty of the images well and add to the quality of the production.

I am particularly sensitive to the pictures. By watching them unfold, you know they are the work of a great photographer. The composition using natural shapes and colors bear the mark of the keen photographer behind the camera. They are there to stress the beauty of our environment. Yet, at the same time, they convey a symbolic significance. This impression is enhanced by the mobility a vision from above produces. It is true that the Earth does not look the same depending from which angle you are looking at. Yann Arthus-Bertrand masters two techniques. First, he has the clear eye of an art photographer. But then he uses dramatically the telephoto lens effect. The images move and slither like a giant snake. This snake-like smooth effect seems to pair and blend with an undulating countryside made of sand-dunes or rivers and where caravans of men seem to adopt an identical gentle undulation. The camera becomes the eye of a giant dragon as it pursues its aerial exploration through the skyscrapers of New York at night. Therefore, it is also a time machine that ends in the brightly lit darkness of glass windows, Men's golden prison. But the sceneries are only flashbacks. The film is about « human ». The movie-camera becomes camera and presents a stunning gallery of human gallery of portraits of all races, sex or religion. This fantastic swirl of portraits progressively reveals what it takes to be a human. It is done in many languages. But it always comes with a visual English text on the screen. Then we are simply blown away by the flow and diversity of the people met image after image. It has a powerful effect that presents poignantly human life on Earth. This is also set in a progressive manner. The purpose is to show how our lives have changed with Time.

José Mujica

In turn, this leads us to the other powerful element of the film : the various people being interviewed. The portraits are not simply photogenic. The same movie technique is used to make them  become alive and speak. What is LOVE. What it takes to be rich or poor. « Poverty is a state. It's a state that lasts. And for many. » What it is to be a woman versus a man. What it means to be free, to be like a slave and have no other alternative in life... One of the most powerful speakers at the end is José Mujica, the former president of Uruguay, who has often been called « the world's humblest president ».

The beauty of the image and the sound of the music are mostly opposed to the harshness of people's lives. And eventually, a main question arises : why can't we all live happily and in harmony ? At a time, when Europe realises unexpectedly what it means to be a refugee, the words uttered by an old bearded Aborigine take a new dimension. « In the old days, it was a given thing that we would share things. […] But nowadays, it's mine. […] We don't share our things anymore. It kills us as human beings, as a society, as a race.[...] We deny other people shelter. We deny other people food. We deny other people their survival, purely because of money.»

I believe this documentary needs being watched and shared not only between adults but with school-children as well. It is an artistic testimony of the state of our human planet nowadays. Thank you Mr. Arthus-Bertrand for this wonderful production.

« What would I like to ask ? What the hell I am doing here. Why can't I be where you are to see what the hell is going on? Let's switch for a minute. Let's switch ! You come here and be me and I'll go there and be you. We'll meet up in the middle line on the Equator and we'll play golf. »

LINKS:

1. Yann Arthus-Bertrand

2. Home (2009 film)

3. Human (2015 film)

4. YouTube film ('Human')

5. Armand Amar

6. José Mujica

Reportage du film, 'Petit Journal' (Français)