What Darwin Didn't Know
What Darwin Didn't Know

Movie spotlight

What Darwin Didn't Know

2009
Movie
90 min
English

Documentary which tells the story of evolution theory since Darwin postulated it in 1859 in 'On the Origin of Species'. The theory of evolution by natural selection is now scientific orthodoxy, but when it was unveiled it caused a storm of controversy, from fellow scientists as well as religious people. They criticised it for being short on evidence and long on assertion and Darwin, being the honest scientist that he was, agreed with them. He knew that his theory was riddled with 'difficulties', but he entrusted future generations to complete his work and prove the essential truth of his vision, which is what scientists have been doing for the past 150 years.

Insights

IMDb7.2/10
Director: Michael R. ReillyGenres: Documentary, History

Plot Summary

This documentary explores the revolutionary ideas of Charles Darwin and the impact of his theory of evolution by natural selection. It delves into the scientific evidence that supports his work and examines how his theories have shaped our understanding of life on Earth. The film also touches upon the ongoing scientific discourse and discoveries that continue to build upon Darwin's foundational concepts.

Critical Reception

The documentary was generally well-received for its clear explanation of Darwin's theories and its presentation of supporting evidence. It was praised for making complex scientific concepts accessible to a general audience, though some reviews noted its limited scope and lack of groundbreaking new information.

What Reviewers Say

  • Presents Darwin's theory of evolution in an accessible manner.

  • Effectively uses expert interviews to explain scientific concepts.

  • A solid overview for those new to evolutionary biology.

Google audience: Information on specific Google user reviews for this documentary is not readily available.

Fun Fact

The documentary features prominent evolutionary biologists and science communicators, including Richard Dawkins and E.O. Wilson, lending significant credibility to its scientific explanations.

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