The Ascent of Man

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Film Description

The complete 13 part series of Jacob Bronowski's fascinating and wide-ranging account of the intellectual and technological history of the human race from prehistoric times to the present day. Designed to compliment Kenneth Clarke's earlier BBC documentary series 'Civilisation', Bronowski concentrates on the growing development of human science and technology, of the ways in which humanity seeks to harness and dominate its environment, and the ways in which scientific and intellectual theory across the ages, from Galileo to Einstein, have broadened our horizons.

Film Information

DVD Extras

4 discs; 48-page illustrated booklet written by film and tv historian Marcus Hearn; Sir David Attenborough remembers The Ascent of Man.

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Review by Moviemail on 1st March 2005

After the success of Civilisation, the BBC wanted to do it again but with science instead of art as the driving force. Bronowski, doyen of The Brains Trust, was the man for the job. A lucid and passionate broadcaster, Bronowski was genuinely fascinated by humanity’s place in the world and entranced by our ability to actually discuss such a thing. But he was also a poet and a believer in the wholeness of art and science and so The Ascent of Man becomes more a cultural than purely scientific meditation on the rise of mankind. Like Civilisation the location shooting is simply stunning as Bronowski pops up all over the world, but he expects more from the audience than Clark and his exposition is constantly engaging with us to become part of the discussion.
The Ascent of Man is a true landmark and a glorious piece of television. It is also a salutary reminder that we don’t have the confidence in either science or the intelligence of the audience to make programmes like this anymore.

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