Transfer

Saw this movie at the bifff (Brussels International Fantastic Film festival). This is truly an exceptional movie and a must see for anyone who likes sci-fi with brains. It is about an old couple that joins a program to transfer their brain to the young body of some third world people. It is about racism, how money makes the world turn and imagines a modern version of slavery. You get to see everyone's point of view : the rich German couple, the people that are around them, as well as the view from the people selling their body for money for their family The actors do a very good job in their dual role (before and after the transfer)

I really loved the soundtrack, hope that it will be on sale someday.

This movie played at the Vancouver International Film Festival and was a welcome gem to the many films submitted. There are always a few movies that get some attention at these festivals but Transfer definitely stands out as a true representation of a science fiction film that makes you think. This picture deals with the issue of people using clones / avatars / humanoids as a product in a capitalistic world where everything can be bought in the near future. Also the director tackles the idea that surrounds buying people that are another race and how the lives they left behind deal with the new black neighbours walking in their clothes at the country club every day. The characters in this movie are excellently portrayed and have a lot of feeling put into their actions around the situation of talking over a new host, and get complicated quickly. Damir talked about his film after the screening and wants people to think about the idea of the soul being tied to the physical body. Also examined the concept of being able to purchase every thing including new bodies after ours expire. This film is a must for SciFi enthusiasts. It is a polished independent picture that was made with minimal money feels like it has the heart of Gattaca and something written by Philip K. Dick.

To the reviewer who gave this film 1/10 because you disagreed with the morality of choices made by the characters: are we serious right now? Transfer is obviously meant to be an imperfect world, wherein difficult and sometimes amoral choices are made. Would you kill someone to save your life partner? In the end it doesn't matter, because I'm not writing a review about you. You call it modern slavery? I can call Gataca modern eugenics, that doesn't mean it deserves 1/10.

That out of the way: transfer is a good film with tight sound design and crisp shooting, pulled together with the kind of style we've come to expect from modern sci-fi like Ex Machina. The story is engaging, as well as being controversial and even sometimes bizarre. Unfortunately, the ending fails to tie everything together in a satisfying manner, leaving the cute and happy romance bubble burst in the last few minutes of the film. That aside, transfer is by no means a bad film. I give it a 7.5/10 on its own merits alone. The 10/10 is to help offset the horrid 1/10 I don't feel it deserved.

Transfer (2010, Germany) is destined to be one of those obscurities that shows up in the discount DVD pile... assuming they have DVDs in the future. The premise is simple: a rich old German couple have their minds transferred into gorgeous young black bodies so they can continue their life and love. The wrinkle is that the original occupants are not purged, but awaken each night for four hours to live their own lives in the midst of their German host lives. Is this a prison or an opportunity?

Excellent acting (and cool futuristic architecture - go Berlin!) is what carries this film. We truly believe the older couple are deeply in love, can understand their decisions, and their misgivings. As we get to know the couple from Africa (Sarah from Ethiopia, Apolain from Mali) we understand their motivations and frustrations. The clever aspect is having four characters play out their drama in only two bodies.

Unfortunately the film is too slow for the content. There are too many scenes that do little to advance the narrative. The resolution seems obvious and rather perfunctory. And it has a cold brutality that doesn't fit with the warm vibes the four principal actors have conjured. (Though Jeanette Hain is icy blue and otherworldly.)

I found the soundtrack rather repetitive and sometimes inappropriate. I kept getting the feeling Transfer was trying too hard to be Gattaca (right down to the unnecessary music recital scene). There are also problems with the ADR that makes me wonder if dialogue wasn't changed in post.

Though Transfer is an intelligent film in a world of rubbish SF, it could have been so much more. I will generously give it a 7, since such efforts should be encouraged.

I thought I'd add a review, since there aren't many up yet, and this isn't a movie that I think you'd easily find information on otherwise.

Excellent movie. I was looking for some kind of cerebral sci-fi, and I definitely found it. There was a lot more social commentary than I expected (the summary on Netflix was vague), which was great. The visuals add to the commentary and plot - the white actors are so white, I mistakenly thought it was filmed in a Nordic country. (Yes, I know they are speaking German... The 'Nordic' setting seemed to make sense until I thought about the language.) The reflections are subtle enough to challenge you into thinking without hitting you in the face and getting you on the defensive.

Gattaca is an apt reference. I'd add Total Recall and Blade Runner, although the effects are more Gattaca and/or cerebral French films. Actually it reminded me of The Beat That My Heart Skipped (Audiard) as well, possibly because of the stellar soundtrack. It's also similar to Audiard's movie as a psychologically gripping film, following characters through dubious choices through to some kind of understanding and/or change.