Human Factors - SPOILER-FREE Review | Sundance 2021
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Directed by: Ronny Trocker
Written by: Ronny Trocker
Starring: Sabine Timoteo, Mark Waschke, Jule Hermann, Wanja Valentin Kube, Hannes Perkmann, Daniel Séjourné
Runtime: 102 min
Synopsis: To escape mounting tensions at the advertising agency they co-own, French-German couple Nina (Sabine Timoteo) and Jan (Mark Waschke) whisk their kids, Max (Wanja Valentin Kube) and Emma (Jule Hermann), away to their seaside vacation home. The couple has signed a new politically charged client, forcing them to confront their clashing priorities. But what’s meant to be an idyllic off-season retreat turns sinister when burglars tear through the house, unseen by anyone except Nina.
One of my intentions with this edition of Sundance was to catch as many foreign language films as possible, but without forcing myself to watch a movie that didn’t interest me in the slightest. Human Factors has an intriguing premise that instantly grabbed my attention, and it was the first international flick that I added to my watchlist, so I was definitely excited. Unfortunately, it fails to build its concept in a compelling manner throughout the entire runtime, even though it’s technically impressive.
Klemens Hufnagl’s cinematography is undoubtedly the standout of the entire film. Ronny Trocker employs long takes and uses the physical performances from the cast to deliver the intended messages and hints to the understanding of the underlying themes that surround the overarching mystery. Different viewers can interpret these topics in distinct ways, and the screenplay’s structure allows for each character’s perspective of the break-in to address matters such as isolation, paranoia, personal fears, and much more. Sadly, these subjects gradually become less interesting and too philosophical due to the individual storylines that become apparently detached from the main plot.
The terrific, smooth camera work left me hoping for something that would profoundly affect the movie in a positive way, but the twisty yet unimpactful third act doesn’t compensate for the slow pacing, dull conversations, and overall lack of energy. The ending warrants more time to think about it, but the underwhelming feeling will probably remain. I also found it very tough to connect with a single character, and if it weren’t for the decent performances, this would have been a major letdown.
Final Thoughts
Human Factors carries an interesting premise and a storytelling structure that allows for meaningful underlying themes to be explored through isolated storylines. However, despite the remarkable cinematography from Klemens Hufnagl and Ronny Trocker’s commitment to his screenplay, the philosophical, ambiguous atmosphere present during the entire runtime only hurts the already heavy pacing and bland interactions, ultimately transforming each character’s arc into something hard to be emotionally invested in. The final act is as close as the viewers get to intriguing development, but the several narrative twists don’t impact the overall story in a captivating nor surprising manner. Good performances from Sabine Timoteo and Mark Waschke save the film from a more significant disappointment.
