I Am Human

I don't know why this documentary would be catagorized in the thriller genre, I must have missed a point there, but whatever, the truth is that I Am Human is a very interesting documentary, with serious topics like our brain capacities and how far we could or should explore, about curing all kind of diseases, injuries or conditions by understanding our brain functions better. I'm in awe when i see what we are already capable to achieve now, not sure though if it is morally correct to be able to alternate or improve certain things. Should we just cure illnesses, give sight back to a blind person, hearing to the deaf and other handicaps? Or instead should we look further and discover things we couldn't imagine a couple years ago? Things that aren't necessary a good thing even though it would improve everyone's personal life. Do we still need to stretch out our lifespan on this earth? We are already driving at a wall at high speed, with no breaks, the planet will be oversaturated, do we really need people to get much older? I Am Human raises questions, but most of all it brings hope for people with diseases or conditions that we thought were uncurable at one point. It's very well explained, sometimes emotional to watch, but it will make you for sure talk about it.

This film felt like a sci-fi documentary, but the fact that it was REAL made it even more exciting. It was both hopeful, and lovingly put together. I've already watched it TWICE!

I was surprised at how gripping this documentary was. Directors Elena Gaby and Taryn Southern relay some complex ideas and technologies with clarity, and never lose focus on the audience's emotional connection to the people who are being helped by this technology. We come to love these characters and care about them even as our minds are being stimulated by the cutting-edge and mindblowing techniques. It's a really interesting and inspiring film.

This is a well made documentary which focuses on the breakthroughs of deep brain stimulation. However, I find the documentary rather one sided, presenting only the positives of the breakthroughs. Hence, I regard this as an infomercial rather than a real documentary.

I don't usually publish IMDB reviews, but after seeing this film at the Tribeca Film Festival I felt compelled to share my thoughts.

I Am Human is a documentary that ostensibly tells the story of three medical patients and their experiences with state-of-the-art neurotechnology. However, the film really shines when exploring the marriage of many of today's hot button themes: Technology, Medicine, Ethics, Entertainment, and Psychology.

The film features key contributions from thought leaders including Bryan Johnson, who is the CEO of Kernal and a pioneering entrepreneur in neurotechnology, and Nita Farahanu, who is a Professor of Law & Philosophy at Duke University. The film seamlessly moves between the three patients and industry experts, so that the audience gradually understands the risks and benefits of the emerging technology as the patients learn the same.

This is the rare documentary where the technical contributions match the narrative contributions. The cinematography, editing, and score were all fantastic and made me feel like I was watching a big-budget medical thriller instead of a thoughtful documentary. As an added bonus, the film is directed by two vibrant young women. Their intelligence and passion was infectious and obvious through each segment of the film, even before they participated in a live Q&A session after the film.

As my personal methodology, I only award films a maximum 10/10 score if they hit me in both the head and the heart. That is, if they make me both think and feel deeply. I Am Human checks those boxes and more. It is the first film in a few years where I left with zero criticisms, yet many questions. I do not expect my questions to be answered for several years, until neurotechnology enters our homes and lives, but I wait with both excitement and fear over how the technology could change our understanding of what it means to be "human."

I Am Human is a masterpiece. It should not be limited to film festivals and deserves a wider release. If I had watched this film during high school or college, then I would have strongly considered focusing my studies on neurotechnology. Highly recommended.