Parents' Guide to Humano

Humano Poster Image

Common Sense Media Review

Melissa Camacho By Melissa Camacho , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 15+

Insightful docu has some violent imagery, hallucinogens.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 15+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

What's the Story?

HUMANO is a documentary about a young man's three-month journey towards self-awareness and discovery. It's 2011, and 25-year-old Argentinian Alan Stivelman, armed with a single camera and an open mind, travels to the central Peruvian Andes to meet Plácido, a Q'ero Inca paqo (priest) and ask him 200 questions about the origin of, and the meaning behind, the existence of humans on Earth. Before answering them, Plácido takes Stivelman on a journey deep into the mountains in order to raise his level of consciousness so that he can find, and truly understand, the answers he is looking for. As the filmmaker participates in ancient rituals, battles the altitude during physical treks, and copes with the beautiful, but challenging, environment, the mystical priest patiently teaches him that it is only when people understand the natural, spiritual relationship between human beings and the Earth, that they learn to be human.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say : Not yet rated

This intimate and fascinating documentary offers an insightful look into the spiritual awakening of a young man thanks to his sense of adventure and lack of prejudice. But what makes his journey particularly interesting is the glimpse it offers into the sacred and ancient beliefs and rituals of the Q'ero, an isolated ethnic group who are considered the last direct descendants of the Inca. Plácido, who appears to have some significant contact with the occidental (Western) world, deconstructs some of the foundations of his people's belief system in ways that those who live modern lifestyles can understand. This creates a simple, but eloquent overarching narrative that encourages self-reflection as Stivelman seeks his own purpose. If viewers are willing to watch Humano with an open mind, they'll discover a beautiful film that reminds us that our dissatisfactions in life are often a result of seeing materialism as a natural state of things, and forgetting the importance of maintaining our human connections with the natural world.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the history of the Q'ero Inca community. Did you know that they are considered the last of their kind? How do you think their community, and their culture, will survive?

  • What lessons does Humano offer about human's relationship with nature? Why is it so important for human beings to understand this connection?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by

Humano Poster Image

What to Watch Next

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate