Politiken —  ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤

Politiken praises Human Race as a gripping, well-constructed portrait of both cutting-edge science and the man behind it. Critic Kim Skotte highlights the film’s ability to turn complex genetics into compelling drama driven by rivalry, ethical dilemmas and personal vulnerability. The documentary is described as a seamless blend of curiosity, ambition, and mental fragility — a work that leaves the audience “much wiser.”

Information

Information calls the film “deeply fascinating and highly ambitious,” emphasizing its success in transforming a vast scientific project into something intimate and human. The review highlights the film’s exploration of mental health, heredity, and identity, as well as its nuanced depiction of Willerslev’s upbringing, competitive nature and emotional life. The DNA sequencing itself is described as “elementally exciting” to follow.

Ekko — ★★★★★

Ekko describes Human Race as “intentionally crafted as a double portrait — of Eske Willerslev and of humanity as a species.” Kristian Ditlev Jensen praises the film’s elegant movement between micro- and macro-perspectives, its artistic precision, and its contemplative tone. He highlights the strong visual identity and the film’s deep emotional intelligence.

Kulturbunkeren — ★★★★★

Kulturbunkeren writes that audiences are “captivated from beginning to end.” The film is praised for generating drama from scientific competition, cultural conflict, and psychological struggle, rather than traditional action. The review highlights how the film raises major questions about heredity, culture, identity and mental disorders — and leaves viewers eager to learn more.

Sundhedspolitisk Tidsskrift — ★★★★★

Sundhedspolitisk Tidsskrift describes the film as “inspiring and empathetic.” The review praises its accessible communication of complex research and its human-centred storytelling. Human Race is highlighted for showing how genetic findings nuance our understanding of mental disorders, while portraying Willerslev as a driven yet vulnerable scientist navigating both professional and personal challenges.

Voices of Science — ★★★★★

Voices of Science calls Human Race “a subtle and thought-provoking work,” rich in interpretation and emotional nuance. The review emphasizes that the film invites reflection rather than offering simple answers, presenting its ideas with precision and understatement. It is described as a powerful, contemplative documentary that stays with the viewer long after the credits.

Kulturpanelet

Kulturpanelet highlights the film as a profound portrait of both the researcher and the human being behind the project. The review commends the documentary for integrating evolution, psychology, identity and ambition into a unified narrative, and for its strong visual expression. The film is described as intellectually stimulating and emotionally resonant.

Radio Shalom — ★★★★★★

Steen Møller Sørensen calls Human Race “vibrant, dramatic and exhilarating,” praising its visual strength, dynamic pacing and evocative musical score. The review notes the film’s balance of intensity, entertainment and human depth.

Lys! Kamera! Ord! — ★★★★

Per Juul Carlsen highlights Human Race as a visually striking, expertly crafted documentary that succeeds in transforming high-stakes research into an engaging human story. While the reviewer notes that the media world gravitates toward personalities over pure science, the film is praised for offering a surprisingly revealing portrait of Eske Willerslev — his intensity, humour, competitiveness, and the personal vulnerabilities that shape his work. The critic emphasizes that the film makes viewers “significantly wiser” about one of Denmark’s most talked-about scientists, portraying not only the global race to map the human genome but also Willerslev’s own struggles with bipolarity, creativity, and the pressures of scientific ambition. Even if the viewer must look elsewhere for deeper genetic explanations, Human Race is celebrated for delivering a compelling, character-driven insight into the human forces behind major scientific breakthroughs.

Connery — ★★★★★

Connery praises Human Race for asking one of the biggest questions of all: What does it really mean to be human? Reviewer Rasmus Krarup Jensen highlights that director Simon Lec is driven by far more than scientific curiosity — using the camera to explore identity, difference, and the universal struggle to fit into a world that often prefers uniformity. The film is described as essential viewing for anyone curious about why humans are the way we are.

CPH:DOX

Niklas Engstrøm praises the film for tackling the biggest questions — “What makes us who we are?” — while offering an unusually intimate portrait of Eske Willerslev. He describes Human Race as a documentary that combines scientific discovery with themes of identity, difference and the universal struggle to find one’s place in the world. According to Engstrøm, the film is far more than a science documentary: it is an existential exploration of humanity itself.

Movie Metropolis — ★★★★★

Movie Metropolis describes Human Race as “an erudite, thought-provoking documentary” that blends dazzling visual effects, rich interviews, and accessible scientific storytelling. Reviewer Peter Krausz highlights how sequencing over 5,000 ancient humans yields profound insights into mental illness and human variation, offering “much food for thought.” The film is praised for its intellectual depth, emotional resonance, and its ability to make complex research cinematic and engaging.

Sir Stephen Fry

Sir Stephen Fry calls Human Race “deeply fascinating and intriguing,” praising Eske Willerslev as “an extraordinary man” whose discoveries “turn so much of what we thought about human history upside down.” He describes the film as breathtaking — and concludes clearly: “Quote me as a supporter and admirer of this film.”

“Human Race explores some of humanity’s most pressing questions throughout history. What makes us who we are? And why are we the way we are? It isn’t, however, a traditional science movie. The film offers an intimate, unflinching portrait of maverick scientist Eske Willerslev, adding depth to the broader scientific context and profound insights to our understanding of who we are.”

Niklas Engstrøm, Artistic Director of CPH:DOX

“A new Danish documentary asks the big question: What does it really mean to be human? Director Simon Lec is clearly driven by more than scientific curiosity. He uses the camera to explore identity, difference, and the eternal struggle to fit into a world that prefers us all to look the same. Human Race is a must-see for anyone even slightly curious about why we are the way we are.”

Rasmus Krarup Jensen, Magazine Connery

““Human Race is intentionally crafted as a double portrait —
of Eske Willerslev as a person, and of humanity as a species.
The shift between micro and macro perspectives
is seamlessly executed.”

★★★★★

Kristian Ditlev Jensen, Ekko Filmmagazine

“You are captivated from beginning to end.
Despite the lack of fistfights, there is plenty of drama.”

★★★★★

Adib Scott Schmidt, KulturBunkeren

“Visually, it’s stunning. Human Race makes powerful use of contrasting elements — music, lighting, and imagery. Its artistic choices, often reminiscent of Hollywood cinema, elevate the storytelling and give the film a rich, immersive feel. (…) Human Race is entertaining, captivating, and informative — both on a scientific and on a human level.”

★★★★

Sofie Sønderskov Johansen, Nosferatu

“Documentary film Human Race offers an inspiring and empathetic portrayal of a leading researcher’s quest for answers, set against the backdrop of scientific rivalry and the unpredictability of life. (…) Human Race elegantly shows that the innermost essence of science is about man’s fundamental desire to understand his own existence.”

★★★★★

Bo Karl Christensen, Sundhedspolitisk Tidsskrift

“The film is a subtle and thought-provoking piece, rich with interpretation and layered meaning. Rather than offering clear-cut answers, it invites the viewer to reflect, presenting its ideas with delicate precision. HUMAN RACE is a powerful and thought-provoking documentary. (…) Each scene offers quiet hints and nuanced perspectives, allowing space for personal reflection and interpretation.”

★★★★★

William Ruud, Voices of Science

“Human Race is vibrant, dramatic, and exhilarating, keeping the audience on edge throughout. It’s visually striking and accompanied by an excellent musical score.”

★★★★★★

Steen Møller Sørensen, Radio Shalom