Still Human

Highly informative and factual documentary drawing on what poverty looks like in two mega cities (LA & Mumbai) Very engaging & eye opening watch asking some serious questions on the why and how such degrees of poverty are present in this day and age. Addressing, researching and presenting with strong visuals and mind blowing facts the many factors such as political, cultural, economic and social actions that are impacting these two cities and their wealth divides.

Interesting and thought provoking correlations are drawn throughout alongside numerous past, present and future solutions and the impact they have, may not have or may have in the future.

Clearly highlighting that education, investment and development are the foundations to empowering these societies to gain improvement in all areas of the rich / poor divide in these cities and globally.

Everyone is human and deserves the right to the basics in life to be able to live in a humane, healthy environment where they can seek opportunities to further improve their welfare, health, standard of living, working and home environments.

A highly captivating movie that makes one question the world we live in. The documentary by David Albert Habif exhibits poverty in two of the world's biggest democratic nations. Unravelling the complication of poverty in a way that tug at the heartstrings. A raw take on corruption, greed and blatant ignorance has led to indigence.

The movie takes a dive into the root cause of poverty, behind the curtain of some the flourishing economies. Coherent narration with captivating visuals, the documentary gives a resolute view of the skewed society. The pacing makes the film engaging, gives a glimpse of the stark difference between the many major cities. The story moves back and forth between the depiction of major cities across the world and expert's narration elegantly balanced without pressing urgency.

Still Human doesn't just scratch the surface but questions the root of the evil that has riddled humans for centuries. The documentary tries to seek solution with the central design in mind, to extirpate poverty with a valiant notion. The film walks through the sensitive topic of exploitation and slavery, pondering over how we have always been shackled by deprivation.

A compelling story, Still Human takes on the challenges of poverty in a way that is both intriguing and emotionally moving.

Still Human is an insightful documentary, visually stunning with a gripping storyline.

Through expertly crafted editing, the documentary contrasts the issues of poverty in two of the worlds largest cities- Los Angeles and Mumbai. Rich graphics and moving interviews give viewers a real sense of the very different ways in which poverty is experienced on opposite sides of the world. The documentary contains captivating footage of the cities, but becomes even more powerful when it uses personal stories to demonstrate how corruption, greed and even the lack of apathy can create an environment of dysfunction and inequality.

The documentary by David Albert Habif does an excellent job of illustrating the many ways poverty manifests itself both in first and third world countries. By contrasting the two large cities, He highlights their mutual pain points, makin it clear that poverty, oppression and inequality are global issues.

There is no one solution that can adequately address the homelessness situation in Los Angeles, or any other city or location. Individually, it needs to be addressed one by one. Homelessness caused by poverty is an issue addressed by the doc, and we are shown how people respond to it in those countries( USA & India).

Habif poignantly captures the realities of the grinding poverty many Americans face on a daily basis and provides a necessary reminder of the injustices and inequalities still present in our society.

Still Human is visually stunning and impactful, truly an affecting and powerful documentary, its a must watch for anyone interested in humanity.

"Still Human" is a thought-provoking documentary that sheds light on the pressing issue of poverty and homelessness, which has baffled the world for years. Despite numerous promises made by governments to eradicate these problems, the issues persist and have worsened to the point of being neglected. This documentary aims to remind us of our duty towards humanity and awaken our conscience to the fact that the homeless community are human beings who deserve to live with dignity. Hence the title, "Still Human."

It starts by highlighting the root cause of the problem and other contributing factors. The film reveals that the homeless community is a victim of inefficient bureaucracies, failed systems, lack of proper infrastructure, poor education, and sentimental leaders who implement policies without careful thought about how they may affect the larger population.

Furthermore, "Still Human" gives us an inside look at how policies like drug-use prohibition put non-violent drug users in jail; more often than not, these individuals are put back into society without adequate provision for them to be able to live meaningful lives afterwards. There's also the ageing out of foster care policies that push young adults who cannot fend for themselves into society. These individuals, 90% of the time, end up sleeping on the streets. Thereby adding to the ever-growing number of this category of people.

Unfortunately, the government seems to be using a holistic approach to solving the issue, which has proved ineffective over the years. In the end, based on expert suggestions, we learn that resolving homelessness and poverty involves a more micro approach that addresses the underlying factors unique to each homeless individual's situation before going mainstream.

Additionally, the producer uses case studies, factual evidence of real-life scenarios, and expert insights to support his argument. With Mumbai and Los Angeles as case studies, we can connect emotionally to the subject matter.

The documentary also follows a structured approach. It starts with introducing us to the characters in the story. First, the experts and then the residents of Mumbai and Los Angeles. Afterwards, we are given a deeper insight into each city and the prevailing circumstances, which is the conflict of the story- Poverty and Homelessness. The conflict is resolved in the end by establishing that resolving the challenge of poverty and homelessness in these cities will require a micro approach. However, I am concerned about the feasibility of this approach.

Finally, the alternating interviews with experts and the narrator in "Still Human" make it engaging. But what makes it impactful is its focus on the human stories behind the statistics. The film reminds us that those experiencing homelessness are individuals with their hopes, dreams, and struggles, not just numbers. It also challenges us to confront our biases and assumptions about homelessness and recognise the inherent worth of every human.

Overall, "Still Human" is a thought-provoking and emotionally compelling documentary that sheds light on one of our time's most pressing social issues. As such, it's a must-watch for anyone who cares about social justice, human rights, and the power of empathy to create positive change.

Director David Albert Habif facilitates a searing, eye-opening discussion on homelessness, with experts from the United States, India, and beyond expounding on a wide range of topics

Those of us who live in cities (which, according to the latest statistics, is well over half the human population) are front-row witnesses to the fact that homelessness is rapidly increasing.

And yet, whether through ignorance, weak assumptions, increased individualism, or just the chaotic and often fast-paced nature of modern life, the 21st Century has felt like a general tapering off of the discussion of homelessness and how we can help solve the problems that cause it.

David Albert Habif is here to reignite that conversation - and he's doing so by lighting a director's equivalent of a stick of dynamite.

Still Human is a meticulous, methodical, analytical documentary which delves into the nature of homelessness with a clinical eye and not a hint of judgement, moralising, blame-placing, or quick fixes.

Habif speaks about homelessness on a comparative level, receiving input from experts, economists, doctors, activists, and homelessness workers from across the globe, in order to tell a multi-faceted 2-hour story.

The documentary focuses most specifically on the USA and India, and how people respond to homelessness in those countries on political, social, medical, and personal levels.

Habif's scope is incredibly impressive. He moves seamlessly from diving into the economic models of countries like Finland and Switzerland - and explains, in great detail (along with excellent graphics) why exactly their systems can't easily be replicated in countries which are 100x their size.

From there, he covers everything from the war on drugs, to the oligarchical systems which threaten human progress and reinforce poverty, to mental illness, to different cultural responses to homelessness.

At the centre of it all is Habif's voice - his clear, clinical narrative focus. The documentary works so well because Habif never tires of finding answers to the slightly naive questions that most of us have asked about homelessness. "Why wouldn't it work to just build enough houses for everyone to live in?" "Why are there so many homeless people in LA?" "Well," he seems to say, "here's a broad range of experts called upon to give insightful answers to those exact questions."

The documentary isn't perfect, of course. The wide range of topics covered - as well as the quick pace at which their analysed - can often leave the viewer feeling slightly lost or overwhelmed. As an example, within the space of a few minutes, you're thrown from modern-day homelessness, to the bubonic plague, to 17th English monarchial revolutions, to the Industrial Revolution, then to a quick stop at colonialism and slavery, then back to modern homelessness. It's compelling, yes, and you're very much there for the ride, but it's also dizzying and you sometimes feel like you're not always getting the requisite detail.

Still, if the worst criticism that can be levelled at this film is that it covers too much, then that's not a bad criticism at all.

Habif also deserves extra applause with Still Human for the fact that he never even hints at veering into a partisan political discussion (which many creatives and documentary makers in the Western world are guilty of doing). This film is far too intelligent and complex to find itself pointing a finger at 'right' or 'left' and saying, 'There's who to blame.' The issues are multiple - and Habif is determined to cover as many as he can.

An excellent film.