Homo Sapiens 1900 released

October 30, 1998. Swedish director Peter Cohen releases the film Homo Sapiens 1900, a documentary history of eugenics in the 20th century from the first compulsory sterilization laws. It opens with a clip from 1917 American pro-eugenics film The Black Stork, and covers the practice of eugenics in the United States, Sweden, the Soviet Union and Germany.

A summary of the documentary reads as follows:

"When those who are fit to breed reproduce, the end results benefit society, while the breeding of inferior beings endangers all. This is the backbone of eugenics, a scientific belief that managed to become widespread during the 20th century. This documentary explores its rise in Europe, most notably in Nazi Germany and Sweden, which sought to keep their bloodlines pure. However, there was also a pro-eugenics movement in America that came to target both immigrants and minority groups." (IMDB, n.d.)

The documentary has generally received negative reviews from critics (Rotten Tomatoes, n.d.), and has been criticized for both framing eugenics as past events, and for using shock value and horror tactics to bring home its point, rather than simple documentary (Mozzochi, 2013). It has also received criticism for failing to explore its subject matter with depth, although the film runs at over an hour and a half (Greg, 2009).

Homo Sapiens 1900 has had limited release, but is a testament to the continued interest in the eugenics movement as a modern documentary.

-Amy Dyrbye and Colette Leung

Homo Sapiens 1900 released

October 30, 1998. Swedish director Peter Cohen releases the film Homo Sapiens 1900, a documentary history of eugenics in the 20th century from the first compulsory sterilization laws. It opens with a clip from 1917 American pro-eugenics film The Black Stork, and covers the practice of eugenics in the United States, Sweden, the Soviet Union and Germany.

A summary of the documentary reads as follows:

"When those who are fit to breed reproduce, the end results benefit society, while the breeding of inferior beings endangers all. This is the backbone of eugenics, a scientific belief that managed to become widespread during the 20th century. This documentary explores its rise in Europe, most notably in Nazi Germany and Sweden, which sought to keep their bloodlines pure. However, there was also a pro-eugenics movement in America that came to target both immigrants and minority groups." (IMDB, n.d.)

The documentary has generally received negative reviews from critics (Rotten Tomatoes, n.d.), and has been criticized for both framing eugenics as past events, and for using shock value and horror tactics to bring home its point, rather than simple documentary (Mozzochi, 2013). It has also received criticism for failing to explore its subject matter with depth, although the film runs at over an hour and a half (Greg, 2009).

Homo Sapiens 1900 has had limited release, but is a testament to the continued interest in the eugenics movement as a modern documentary.

-Amy Dyrbye and Colette Leung