Ich bin dein Mensch (I’m Your Man)
Written By: Margaux Fortier
With our growing attachment to technology, what would the world be like if your soulmate could be built and adapt to be the partner you’re looking for? Ich bin dein Mensch dives head first into the near future where this concept comes to be a reality and studies the psychology of adapting to this new possibility. The film premiered at the 2021 Berlin International Film Festival and brought humor and heart into a world that could be considered unbelievable.
In the opening of Ich bin dein Mensch, a woman comes in to what appears to be a very direct and inquisitive blind date but minutes later, her date ‘glitches’ and the audience learns that she is testing the sociability and realistic nature of a robotic human prototype. Alma, played by Maren Eggert, is participating in a trial of this modern relationship potential and has reluctance to the prospect that she could ever connect with him. As the truth of this scenario sinks in, she must fit another ‘person’ into her structured life.
Tom, played by Dan Stevens, comes into the picture with pre-programmed analytics of what most women value and what most women are looking for, with the idea that he would learn from Alma’s personal needs and adjust his behavior. In order to first coexist with the potential of deep connection, Tom must learn what it means to be human and how unpredictable the world actually is while you’re trying to navigate it.
As Tom accompanies Alma through her life, he meets her family and sees her work. When Tom meets Alma’s sister, they reminisce about a summer away and a boy that Alma was in love with. This boy was named Thomas and they suggest that it could have been Tom. Because of this, Tom and Alma begin to think in terms of a shared past. When he comes to her job, he is able to check the research her company is working on. He even goes to the housewarming party of Alma’s ex and new partner and learns about the tragedy in Alma’s past. Tom and Alma get closer in this knowledge and Tom can even anticipate what Alma is thinking and what she will do next.
Learning more about anyone can bring understanding to why they operate as they do. This film explores the nature of preconceived ideas and how happiness can grow when given the opportunity to flourish. By learning the nature of this robot, Alma is able to learn more about acceptance just as Tom is learning about humanity. Tom goes from annoying Alma and getting in her way to using that challenging nature to make her stand up for what is most important to her and in the end, making her feel free. Alma describes love as the feeling when she would daydream about Thomas and close her eyes, embracing the hope that he’d be right in front of her when she opened them. Tom has become the Thomas of her past and is ready to wait for Alma as long as she needs to become part of her future.
Ich bin dein Mensch gives a mix of drama and comedy, of love and nostalgia, and though the setup is unconventional, it is a great watch for all.
Ich bin dein Mensch (I’m Your Man) is screening in Germany over the summer and hopefully will be available for wider release at a later date.