Still Human opens our eyes to one of the world's most substantial and devastating social issues; homelessness. The documentary covers the causes, effects and possible solutions to this ruinous problem in a highly informative yet comprehensible manner. Sharp imagery and high-quality audio combine to create a hard-hitting and emotional film. Transparency is maintained throughout, with varying viewpoints and possibilities offered to the viewer.
Still Human creates a comparison of the overwhelming number of homeless people in Los Angeles, USA to those in developing countries, such as India. Presenting shocking statistics and opinions from experts in the field, the documentary highlights the ways in which homeless people are judged and excluded from society. Whilst watching the documentary, it becomes increasingly apparent that the reasons for such poverty are right in front of our eyes, we just refuse to acknowledge them. Through our actions and the actions of our governments, the poor become poorer and the rich become richer. We doubt what our individual efforts to help can do, so we create a society where nobody does anything. Most consider ourselves compassionate beings, but we ignore the ones who need our empathy and assistance the most.
There is little to criticise about the documentary. Interviews with those who have experienced homelessness could have been an interesting addition. However, I believe that first, we need a basis for understanding this portion of the population, in order to avoid judgements or exploitation. Still Human, unlike many other documentaries on the topic, aims to humanize homeless people rather than merely providing footage with no background knowledge.
I have yet to see a more inspirational and mind-altering documentary than Still Human. It's a documentary that I believe everybody should watch. Still Human is so incredibly moving that it is sure to stay in the mind of viewers long after watching. Most importantly, it has the potential to encourage real changes in society.