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.
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:
5. Armand Amar
6. José Mujica
Michel Leroux
ReplyDelete8:51 AM (58 minutes ago)
to me
Christian
Just finished reading your article on Human. You MUST send it to one of the magazines you publish for. It is a fantastic article - it captures the essence of the movie beautifully and you highlight very important points. Your article, if published to a wider audience, would hopefully entice more people to watch the movie and consequently, become more sensitive to our current reality of what it means to be human on this planet and how we so desperately need to come to the realization that the vast majority of people are suffering - 'because of money'.
Well done my friend.
Thank you Michel! Ironically, I only saw your message today on this site by revisitng it!
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