How to be Human
Director: Bruno Centofanti
Writer: Darren Rapier
Stars: Louise Salter, Sophie Kennedy Clark, Frances Ruffelle
There is something poignant about the darkness that surrounds the world of How to be Human. The short film shows an alternative future for Britain, one which is marked by dystopia, repressed humanity, and deadly conflict. The film turns the perspective of the refugee crisis on its head as it follows the journey of two sisters as they flee this war ridden country – from the crumbling ruins of London to the prison-like security of Dover. The sisters have an unfamiliar relationship - Sophie Kennedy Clarke, is a purely cleansed android-human hybrid whilst the other, Louise Salter, embodies the rawness of wholesome humanity. The pair’s highly accomplished performances create characters which contrast in almost every way. Their dissimilarities combined with the limited dialogue forms an intriguing, and somewhat challenging, sisterly relationship. Salter faces a continuous battle to suppress her human instincts in an attempt to cross the border as an android and survive. Her humanity is gradually purged as her mannerisms and compassion are stripped away.
These harrowing scenes are presented through a visually stunning pallet of warm colours. These saturated images presents somewhat of a paradox. Their warmth injects the work with life but also accentuate the reality of the characters’ suffering. The whole film maintains a mechanical and dilapidated aesthetic with a fluctuating integration of futuristic technology. The inhabited scenes of London and the border controls at Dover are filled with gadgets. The amount of technology diminishes as the sisters undertake their journey through the barren landscapes. A sense of clarity is established with the decline in futuristic elements but these central scenes seem to be out of sync with the overall vision of the dystopian world.
The rather abrupt end seems to come too soon as the audience stares at the screen craving more. This is testament to the absorbing world the creative team has formed. The underlying concept of reversing the refugee crisis is a strong foundation to allow the rest of the film to flourish. The Sci-Fi medium successfully enables the film to tactfully comment on the state of society. Through a shift in perspective How to be Human unifies the identity of the refugee and gives an insight into humanity which resonates far beyond the confinement of the cinematic screen.