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.

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.

***This one has Spoilers*** Watched this movie and i am not sure what to make of it... In short, Poor black people are offered the chance to let old rich white people take over their bodies by means of transferring the minds of the white folks. The people involved, black and white, are given a contract and if agreed mind transfer takes place voluntary. The minds of the black people is allowed the take over for 4 hours at night. The hosts fall in love to the very dislike of the white peoples minds. Herrmann, the old white guy, describes this as. "While we sleep, Herrmann and Anna, those Ni**ers f*ck with each other..." So Sarah, the host woman, gets pregnant. Now this is also disliked by Apolain, host body to Hermann's mind.Here already is the first question for me. If this should become reality, shouldn't it be made sure that racism isn't an issue? Now Anna/Sarah stops taking her medication so Sarah can speak during the day with Herrmann, which they then stop taking altogether later in the movie.The hosts, Apolain and Sarah, forge a plan to escape all this. Also if the medication isn't taken the host mind seems to prevail during the day.The movie has taken a turn for the ridiculous and all it seems to amount to and serves is, an exercise in intellectual masturbation.The movie to me portrays just another form and new way of slavery. After all, in this movie, poor humans from third world countries are exploited so that white rich people may extend their lives. It utterly escapes me at which point this movie is meant to be intellectual stimulating.Moving on, Hermman and Anna are running into problems because they are now black. Hermann is being told that members of his sports club are complaining about his appearance. What did he expect? Sarah gets complexes about her baby, will it be hers or Anna's... ? Later in the movie...Sarah/Anna still pregnant, goes to Menzana, the company which transfers the minds, with Hermann. There they are shown how their child will look like. Anna throws in the question who's child it will be. And they have to make up their minds, because the next day the three months are up. At which point the original bodies will be cremated. Next day they return and sign the documents. Both haven't taken their medication. So Sarah compliments Dr. Menzel (or Mengele?) about the sculptures on her table. Same compliment was given by Anna in the beginning. Thus they are being found out, also the company installed security cameras in their home and of course witnessed them not playing ball. Big fuss ensues from Apolain how evil the company is, bla bla. Bearing in mind that all four involved had been fully informed what is going down on them.In the end. The minds are being transferred back to Hermann and Anna. Host Bodies are being restored to before, baby is being aborted, company wins. Hermann doesn't quite make it and dies during or after the transfer. Anna, which has cancer survives him. I suppose that is the twist in the movie...While there is definitely potential in the story it, it could have been better if the portrayal of the technology would have been more on the positive side of things. E.g. Person born with blindness or other crippling conditions would be able to use a healthy body.All this drivel achieves is showing the ignorance of the characters of the white rich people, the willingness of those people/characters to enslave other bodies for their benefit, the oldest sins committed in the newest ways, and drivel is set in a country which should know better to start with, but then what country could be better? The acting is fine to me. Purely the premise is rubbish to me, with that 1 star.Maybe i'm taking this with a to realistic view on things portrayed in this movie? But I am wondering, if a movie would be made about the bodies of Jews being used by German minds, if people would find it equally stimulating as said here? Somehow doubt it though.It can only be hoped that this stays science fiction.

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.