While there are countless changes that one experiences in the ageing process, one constant that remains is a need for play. As humans, play has been a central component of our lives since the dawn of our existence. The word itself might conjure images of trivial matters posed only for kids in the school yard, but as we develop our own interests and passions, play simply evolves to suit our lifestyle. There are those who find a sense of play on the sporting field, those who look to nature, others who need the adrenaline rush of extreme sports, and the play we encounter in relationships.
It’s this very idea that lies at the heart of the latest docu-series set to land on Netflix, Human Playground: Why We Play. Narrated by Idris Elba, the film examines how various sports and activities are used to spark this idea of ‘play’, and consequently can be used to overcome emotional trauma. The film weaves images from the awe-inspiring Belgian photographer Hannelore Vandenbuscche and sparks a conversation around what play means to each of us as individuals and collective societies; how play can be used to connect with others and help express who we are.
It’s something Vandenbuscche explores in the coffee table book of the same name. According to a press release, the book “reveals the many ways humans experience play in the form of six universal themes: ancient rituals, rites of passage, business, pain, perfection and sacredness. It unveils the original and often extreme ways people use sports to express who they are in some of the most astonishing playgrounds on the planet.”
The press release continues: “This book is not just about sports; it’s about tradition, skill, perseverance, honour, and ultimately about what makes us human.”
In the six-part docuseries, Elba narrates just how humans have pushed themselves in the art of play, testing both their physical and mental limits. Whether it be pushing through pain, performing cultural rituals, or chasing earth’s natural wonders, those profiled across the series are a testament to the human spirit and our ability to defy all expectations once we set our mind to something. In the opening episode, audiences are introduced to Amy, who is attempting to do the Marathon de Sables, a gruelling set of six marathons in six days across the unforgiving Sahara desert in Morocco. Having lost her leg at 19, Amy is now pushing herself to prove that she can finish such an extreme race and will never be defined by her disability.
Speaking about the series in an interview with PEOPLE, Elba explained: “I think when we leave the playground as young people, as kids, recess or whatever, or going to the park just to kick a ball or whatever, when we stop doing that as adults, a piece of us dies. But it’s not completely dead because you can invigorate it again to go out there and expand.”
While the human stories are certainly the heart of the docuseries, they are brought to life through stunning cinematography. From the shots of the desert to those of a diver swimming from under the surface to touch thick ice that overs the lake she’s diving in, these extraordinary visuals will transport you to another place entirely. Below, we’ve rounded up some of the most incredible images from the docu-series and the subsequent coffee table book.
Human Playground is available to stream on Netflix now, while Human Playground the photobook is available for purchase, having been published on September 15.
