Watch The Human Surge

The Human Surge (2016) is a thought-provoking film directed by Eduardo Williams that is set across three continents, exploring themes of human connection and disconnection in the digital age. The film divided into three parts, each taking place in a different location, and following a different group of people. The first part is set in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where we are introduced to a young man named Exe, played by Sergio Morosini. Exe works in a data-entry office, spending much of his day staring at a computer screen. However, he's increasingly dissociated from the world around him, and his social life consists mainly of anonymous online chats with strangers. In the first half of the film, we follow Exe and his teenage friend Alf, played by Shine Marx, on a quiet journey through their run-down neighborhood, culminating in an unexpected and surreal incident.

The second part of the movie takes place in Mozambique, where we meet a group of young men working in a factory. Here, the film's focus widens to explore different themes such as class and globalization. Domingos Marengula plays one of the workers, who spend their days making electronic components that Exe later encounters in Argentina. In this segment, Williams takes a more documentary-style approach, which gives the viewer a chance to get a glimpse of the lives of people who are mostly invisible to the world.

Finally, the third part of the film takes place in the Philippines, where we meet a young man named Hedi. Played by Chai Fonacier, Hedi works in a call center that services American companies, striving to make as much money as possible to fund his family.

Throughout the film, Williams employs stunning cinematography to create a sense of wandering, drawing attention to the characters' lack of direction and purpose. The camera work is notable for creating distance between the viewer and the people on screen, which is enhanced by its unconventional aspect ratio of 4:3. This technique intensifies the feeling of detachment that characterizes many of the film's characters, as if they're floating in a void.

The soundtrack is also noteworthy, composed primarily of ambient sound, which blends into the background of everyday life. Most of the music comes from electronic artist Brian Eno's 'Discreet Music,' which conjures a science fiction backdrop to the film's explorations of shifts in perception and consciousness.

Overall, The Human Surge is a poetic and visually striking film that provides a meditation on the intersection of modern technology, human desire, and the search for meaning amid a rapidly changing world. Through the use of long, observational shots, The Human Surge creates a sense of both intimacy and distance regarding the lives of its characters, allowing one to see simultaneously the humanity of the characters and our own sense of detachment. It is a film that is both meditative and contemplative, and one that cinematography fans, as well as those looking for a deep dive into modern issues, will appreciate.

The Human Surge is a 2016 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 40 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.7 and a MetaScore of 56.