The Human Experience

The Human Experience

Year: 2008

Runtime: 90 mins

Language: English

Director: Charles Kinnane

Documentary

Four friends travel seeking answers to identity and purpose. Their journey leads them into the lives of New York City’s homeless, Peruvian orphans and disabled children, and Ghanaian lepers in forest settlements. Through interviews and real encounters, they witness the dignity and resilience of the human spirit, forever changing their lives.

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Timeline & Setting – The Human Experience (2008)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Human Experience (2008). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

early 2000s

The narrative unfolds in a contemporary, early-21st-century setting. It follows three experiential phases across different continents, reflecting modern humanitarian concerns.

Location

New York City, Peru (Andes foothills), Ghana

The opening sequence takes place on the streets of New York City during a bitter winter, showing life among the homeless. The journey continues to Peru, where a hospital in the foothills of the Andes serves abandoned children and their caretakers. In the final leg, the brothers travel to rural Ghana and visit a leper colony, meeting patients and families affected by AIDS.

🗽 Urban setting 🧭 Cross-cultural journey 🥶 Harsh winter

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:11

Main Characters – The Human Experience (2008)

Meet the key characters of The Human Experience (2008), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Jeffrey Azize (Self)

Jeffrey is one of the Azize brothers who navigates life on the streets and searches for hope amid hardship. He forms connections with homeless companions in New York and reflects on humanity as the journey continues to Peru and Ghana. His experiences drive his empathy and sense of responsibility toward others.

💬 Empathy 🌍 Growth 🧭 Resilience

Clifford Azize

Clifford is Jeffrey's brother who shares in the struggle for survival and the pursuit of meaning. He engages with their homeless peers, then bears witness to the humanitarian efforts encountered on the Peru trip and the Africa leg. His perspective complements Jeffrey's as they confront difficult truths about the human condition.

💬 Empathy 🌍 Growth 🧭 Resilience

Michael Campo

Michael joins the brothers in Africa and travels with them to a leper colony in rural Ghana. He acts as a companion in the quest to witness suffering firsthand and to share in the journey toward hope and connection. His presence highlights themes of friendship and shared purpose.

🤝 Friendship 💊 Medical Care 🧭 Journey

Matthew Sanchez

Matthew is a friend who appears with Michael during the final African segment. He participates in the exploration of humanitarian work and the search for meaning alongside the Azize brothers. His involvement reinforces the sense of community on the journey.

🤝 Friendship 🌍 Global Perspective 💪 Resilience

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:11

Major Themes – The Human Experience (2008)

Explore the central themes of The Human Experience (2008), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

❤️ Compassion

Compassion emerges as the central response to suffering, seen in the brothers' care for their homeless peers in New York and the gentle attention given to abandoned children in Peru. The film pairs harsh reality with small acts of kindness, suggesting empathy can transform difficult circumstances. Through voices of experts and philosophers, compassion is framed as a practical, universal duty.

🤝 Camaraderie

The brothers seek camaraderie among strangers, forming bonds with friends and peers during their travels. The journey to Peru and the later experiences in Africa show how chosen family can arise across cultures. These connections help the characters endure hardship and discover shared humanity.

🌍 Family & Reconciliation

The film culminates in a reunion with the father after ten years, highlighting the pull of family bonds and the possibility of forgiveness. The brothers' renewed relationship with their dad contrasts with the broader encounters with suffering, shaping their personal growth. Family becomes a touchstone for understanding the human condition.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:11

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