Man to Man (2005)

An epic about anthropologists who hunt and capture pygmies for study back in Europe, in an attempt to illustrate the link between man and ape.

Director:

Régis Wargnier

Writers:

William Boyd, Michel Fessler (screenplay)

Stars:

Joseph Fiennes, Kristin Scott Thomas, Iain Glen

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Joseph Fiennes	...	Jamie Dodd
Kristin Scott Thomas	...	Elena Van Den Ende
Iain Glen	...	Alexander Auchinleck
Hugh Bonneville	...	Fraser McBride
Lomama Boseki	...	Toko
Cécile Bayiha	...	Likola
Flora Montgomery	...	Abigail McBride
Patrick Mofokeng	...	Zachary
Alistair Petrie	...	Beckinsale
Hubert Saint-Macary	...	Comte de Verchemont
Matthew Zajac	...	Hector Duncan (as Mathew Zajac)
William McBain	...	Angus
Robin Smith	...	Douglas
Theo Landey	...	Purvis
Ron Donachie	...	Sir Walter Stephenson

Storyline

1870. Dr. Jamie Dodd is elated : he has finally succeeded in capturing not one, but two pygmies. He brings them to Scotland with the help of Elena Van den Ende, an adventurous woman who sells wild animals to the zoos of Europe. His two anthropologist friends, Alexander and Fraser, and himself are certain they have discovered the missing link, which will make them famous. They start examining the pygmy couple from every angle and Jamie gradually discovers that Toko and Likola are just as sensitive and intelligent as any other homo sapiens. His two colleagues strongly reject this idea as it is glory they are after not the truth. Will Jamie be able to prove the two short people are genuine human beings and not freaks to be shown in a zoo?

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Plot Keywords:

pygmy | zoo | scotland | cage | deer hunting | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

MovieScore Media [Sweden] Official site (English, French)

Country:

France South Africa UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 April 2005 (France)

Also Known As:

Czlowiek czlowiekowi

Filming Locations:

Underberg, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Box Office

Budget:

€30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$769,223 (France), 22 April 2005

Opening Weekend USA:

$223,079, 13 April 2005

Company Credits

Production Co:

Vertigo, Skyline Films, France 2 Cinéma

Technical Specs

Runtime:

122 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Opening film for 55th Berlin International Film Festival on February 10, 2005 (world premiere).

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Goofs

When Likola shoots Douglas in the cage trap/fight scene, she is using a model 1873 Colt Single Action Army revolver (a.k.a. "The Peacemaker"), an evident mistake since the action is clearly stated to be set in the year 1870.

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Quotes

Elena Van Den Ende: You and I would make a great alliance.
Jamie Dodd: Alliance?

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Soundtracks

Three blind mice
(traditional)

User Reviews

The wild children

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.