Transfer

To the reviewer who gave this film 1/10 because you disagreed with the morality of choices made by the characters: are we serious right now? Transfer is obviously meant to be an imperfect world, wherein difficult and sometimes amoral choices are made. Would you kill someone to save your life partner? In the end it doesn't matter, because I'm not writing a review about you. You call it modern slavery? I can call Gataca modern eugenics, that doesn't mean it deserves 1/10.

That out of the way: transfer is a good film with tight sound design and crisp shooting, pulled together with the kind of style we've come to expect from modern sci-fi like Ex Machina. The story is engaging, as well as being controversial and even sometimes bizarre. Unfortunately, the ending fails to tie everything together in a satisfying manner, leaving the cute and happy romance bubble burst in the last few minutes of the film. That aside, transfer is by no means a bad film. I give it a 7.5/10 on its own merits alone. The 10/10 is to help offset the horrid 1/10 I don't feel it deserved.

This movie played at the Vancouver International Film Festival and was a welcome gem to the many films submitted. There are always a few movies that get some attention at these festivals but Transfer definitely stands out as a true representation of a science fiction film that makes you think. This picture deals with the issue of people using clones / avatars / humanoids as a product in a capitalistic world where everything can be bought in the near future. Also the director tackles the idea that surrounds buying people that are another race and how the lives they left behind deal with the new black neighbours walking in their clothes at the country club every day. The characters in this movie are excellently portrayed and have a lot of feeling put into their actions around the situation of talking over a new host, and get complicated quickly. Damir talked about his film after the screening and wants people to think about the idea of the soul being tied to the physical body. Also examined the concept of being able to purchase every thing including new bodies after ours expire. This film is a must for SciFi enthusiasts. It is a polished independent picture that was made with minimal money feels like it has the heart of Gattaca and something written by Philip K. Dick.

This is a low-budget German movie with English subtitles. It was dubbed in French but not in English for some reason. In an undisclosed future time, very rich old people can transfer their minds to new healthy bodies. It turns out that the best candidates are black people. It's apparently a voluntary process since the company gives money to the poor black volunteers, which will be sent to their families. Also, the bodies get back their original minds for 4 hours each night. We follow an old white couple, very much in love, going through this process. At first we see their adaption to their new younger black bodies, including rich white society, with interludes as their bodies regain their own minds at night. The focus shifts more on the younger "minds" as it goes along.

This is not a flashy movie with special effects by any means. This world resembles very much our own except the slightly more futuristic company. Even the transfer process is extremely minimalistic and not really shown. It's not a comedy, and it keeps a serious tone throughout despite opportunities for silly mischief when the old people get "young". It's more of an intimate social drama designed to make you think. It tackles racism, capitalism, medical ethics and what a soul is, but in mostly subtle ways. I thought the acting was fine (with the exception of the blond guy at night), but not outstanding. The main black actor was probably the stand-out because of his charismatic presence. I found the story interesting, I didn't know what was going to happen, but it didn't really grab me emotionally as melodrama was tightly restrained. To be honest, the movie felt a bit cold and definitely not like a typical American movie. I almost forgot to mention the original classical music soundtrack that was surprisingly good and sometimes added much-needed emotion. I liked watching Transfer, it's worth watching if you're into slow-placed intellectual sci-fi (with no effects), but I would not buy it. On my DVD, there were no special features.

Rating: 6.5 out of 10 (good)

Saw this movie at the bifff (Brussels International Fantastic Film festival). This is truly an exceptional movie and a must see for anyone who likes sci-fi with brains. It is about an old couple that joins a program to transfer their brain to the young body of some third world people. It is about racism, how money makes the world turn and imagines a modern version of slavery. You get to see everyone's point of view : the rich German couple, the people that are around them, as well as the view from the people selling their body for money for their family The actors do a very good job in their dual role (before and after the transfer)

I really loved the soundtrack, hope that it will be on sale someday.

Transfer is a slow movie that will gently pick you up and make you face reality. It's all about life eternal, what we humans are ready to do, what can technology bring us, to what extent should we embrace it, and how much control do we have over our future.

The technology itself is totally bogus, but that is extremely easy to ignore. Once the situation is set, conflicts arise. You never know exactly where you're going to end up, and the screen writer make sure you get what you need to keep your eye riveted to the show.

The disappointments are few. A bit slow, not a lot of action, and subtitled. That's about it.

See if if you're ready for an unconventional romance set in a sterilized view of the future.