Man to Man (2005)

Excellent but underrated film

Absolutely brilliant

A Major Disappointment

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

This film is about an British anthropologist developing an astoundingly human connection with two pygmies from Africa.I find this film captivating. The plot is not a common mainstream plot, which is refreshing. I am particularly impressed by Joseph Fiennes' character's genuine attachment to the African people. It is touching to see him sacrifice himself.It highlights many aspects of humanity. Is it right to sacrifice human life for the advancement of science? What rights should living beings get? How do we balance the satisfaction of curiosity and the exploitation of "exotic" individuals? Is it OK to blame a murder someone else to achieve the big picture? Other comments say that the film leaves little for imagination. I do not disagree with it, as I think the story was told rather plainly. However, I think it leaves a great deal about life, morality and ethical issues to reflect upon. It is a touching and thought provoking film.

In 1969,Truffault made a movie about a wild child: a brat who,since he was a baby ,used to live in the woods.People took him to a hospital,where people would pay to see him like a queer animal.A doctor ,Itard knew that this child was a human being.He took him to his home and began to "tame" him.He realized that his protégé could tell right from wrong:he had proved he was a human like you or me.Regis Wargnier tells a similar story with his couple of pygmies .He pits a loyal scientist (Fiennes) against the old guard who is still thinking that those natives are the missing link between the big apes and Lucy .Nowadays scientists tend to think that there is actually ONE race but it was the nineteenth century then.The story is never boring and features some good scenes: the natives in front of the sea saying "this is our river" ;the male pygmy climbing on the mast of the ship;the scene in the zoo where Fiennes "tames" his protégés and thus reveals they can think.The main problem is that the movie is too "Hollywoodian" .Truffaut's work was produced by an American firm ,but he remained himself and his film was austere,realistic and accessible though.Wargnier's work is too flashy ,putting the emphasis on the good guy /"villains" fight and not giving enough time to Fiennes /the pygmies relationship.A firm friendship/ communication cannot be established overnight.It took time to Itard to gain Victor's trust (the wild child) ,and Annie Sullivan ("the miracle worker")had to fight (physically) to be able to communicate with Helen Keller.When Scott- Thomas tries to teach arithmetic (or tries to communicate through arithmetic:I've read that pygmies know only two numbers :one and many)to the pygmy woman ,the sequence is much too short.This is those scenes the film desperately needs.Entertaining,but Regis Wargnier got caught up into the Hollywood machine.

In 1870, in Central Africa, the expeditionary Professor Jamie Dodd (Joseph Fiennes) and his associate Elena Van Den Ende (Kristin Scott Thomas) kidnap a couple of pigmies, Toko (Lomama Boseki) and Likola (Cécile Bayiha), and bring them to Scotland for research. Professors Alexander Auchinleck (Iain Glen) and Fraser McBride (Hugh Bonneville) are studying the missing link with Professor Jamie Dodd, and they believe they Africans might be the connection between man and monkey. However, Jamie finds evidence of intelligence in the couple, but their partners do not want to destroy their theory, and they imprison Jamie and travel with the pigmies to present them to European intellectuals. Jamie unsuccessfully tries to bring them back to Africa, but he has serious problems with the civilized society."Man To Man" has an original screenplay, with a wonderful cinematography and magnificent performances and direction. Unfortunately, the story does not flow well. For example, the abrupt beginning, without a previous development of the characters or the situation is confused and gives the impression of an action film. When Jamie is discussing with Alexander and his sister about the destiny of Likola, there is an ellipsis without explanation for the attitude of these characters. The ambiguous character of Elena Van Den Ende is also confused, showing contradictory feelings. The music score is also very beautiful. The "civilized" attitudes of the white man with the pigmies are also very impressive. My vote is seven.Title (Brazil): "O Elo Perdido" ("The Missing Link")

Man To Man tries hard to be a good movie: it has its heart at the right place, it aspires to be epic and it has a message that no doubt everybody will appreciate. But there lies also some of the problems of this picture. It strives so hard to be good and to get its message across that sometimes the viewer must feel unchallenged. So it is only adequate that the images which are used by this picture are simplistic - Man To Man doesn't let the viewer decide what he thinks is right but is hammering its message in his head. Joseph Fiennes exemplifies this in his role: he does his best to look concerned, genuinely moved and all the other emotions you can express with the single one facial expression his repertoire has to offer. Add that the movie is overlong and loses its speed towards the end you would be easily led to the conclusion that Man To Man is not worth watching. But there are enough points to defend it: it is entertaining, has some humorous scenes and the show-stealing Kristin Scott Thomas. Of course you should not compare it to humanistic masterpieces like The Elephant Man (David Lynch) but you'll be leaving the theatre satisfied. It tries to grab your heart (even if your brain thinks that it is too obvious) and succeeds most of the time.