Transfer (2010) Review- By Michael J. Carlisle

 Title: Transfer
Year: 2010
Director: Damir Lukacevic
Country: Germany
Language: German

My friend Herta Neufeld recommended I review a 2010 German film called Transfer quite a while ago. This is available on Netflix, but I admittedly pirated it because I don't intend to give the popular streaming site a dime of my money, mainly since I use Hulu due to its vast Criterion Collection library. Transfer is quite a curious film, as it is/was rarely talked about (in North America at least). Does this mean Damir Lukacevic's picture is an underrated gem, or could it be a horrid atrocity? Lets find out!

In a futuristic society where the wealthy get to live forever by swapping bodies with refugees, an elderly couple explores this opportunity with harsh consequences.

Right away Transfer reminded me of John Frankenheimer's sci-fi masterpiece Seconds, in which Rock Hudson plays a banker who undergoes a procedure to give himself a new identity. Both are unsettling and moody, neither rely on flashy special effects to get their sociological points across. Transfer keeps a serious tone throughout, challenging its viewer to reflect on the moral implications of transferring one's consciousness to another's body.

It might be tempting for some reviewers to dismiss the race issues in the film as a cliche  'bad rich whites exploit minorities' trope which plagues similar films, but the subtle emotional turmoil portrayed by the leads is enough to discount this claim.Transfer is about far more than the evils of capitalism and modern slavery; in-fact it thrives on compassion, sacrifice, empathy and kinship. Every theme is addressed rather tactfully, even though the director walks a fine line between honest intellectual commentary and condescending brainless dribble.

Although low budget, Transfer does well under its monetary constraints. The production design as solid, as well as the cinematography. The orchestral score complements, rather than distracts. My only complaint is that the pacing is a bit too slow, wavering between ingeniously methodical to just plain boring. Still it's a cerebral sci-fi that will send plenty of chills down your spine. Praise it! 4/5