Spearheaded by maverick professor Eske Willerslev, an international team of scientists undertakes an unprecedented quest: to decode the DNA of 5,000 ancient humans. As their groundbreaking genetic archive expands, it begins to reveal unexpected secrets—reshaping what we thought we knew about human history and evolution. Could conditions like depression, bipolar disorder, and autism have always been part of our genetic makeup? And might these so-called disorders be intrinsic to being human?
For five years, Danish filmmaker Simon Lec and his crew have followed Willerslev, capturing the highs and lows of a man driven by ambition and haunted by questions of identity. This documentary is not only a portrait of a scientist striving to leave his mark on the world, but also a deeply personal journey—one that challenges what it means to be different and suggests that the answers may lie deep within our ancient genes.
Square Peg in a Round Hole
Professor Eske Willerslev has a big idea. He is dreaming of building the world’s largest collection of prehistoric DNA: A gigantic library with the genetic makeup of the human species, compiled from 5,000 long-dead individuals. It’s a bold project and in his relentless attempt to reach his goal the professor gets swirled into the political, ethical and existential tangle his work creates. Why is the professor so driven? And what mysteries about the human species does he believe ancient skeletons might hold?
For the past five years, Danish filmmaker Simon Lec and his film team have followed Eske Willerslev, chronicling both his personal and professional lives. The outcome is an exciting story of a fiercely competitive scientist and his goal of making his mark on human history and the future of the human race. It is also a heartwarming, real-life documentary film with an incredible story about a maverick professor’s quest to fit in.
“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
Few subjects fascinate us as much as human origins. ‘The Human Race’ addresses some of the most fundamental questions: Where do we come from? How did we get here? What DNA have we—modern humans—inherited from prehistoric human beings? Where do neurological diseases and psychiatric disorders come from? With each ancient genetic sequence, scientists learn new information about how ancient people moved around and interacted in the ancient world and about their health. In many cases, this has helped overturn theories and resolve age-old debates. In other words, the genomes of the long dead are turning up all sorts of unexpected and controversial findings, laying out bombs into the halls of established wisdom and generating facts about who we are and how we got here.
Ancient DNA has moved beyond esoteric science and into the center of everyday conversations about identity, health, culture and politics. Although it is the DNA of ancient peoples being studied, the information obtained is having an impact on the lives of living people. ‘Human Race’ revolves around a wide range of topics. However, the primary focus is on how outstanding research contributes to better world. The film is about a team of exceptional researchers. Their research makes the world smarter, enables us to rethink who we are and how we are all connected, they help us to address global challenges and benefit society by dispel some of the taboos and prejudices that surround neurological diseases and psychiatric disorders
“Human Race is a deeply fascinating and intriguing film: What an extraordinary man Professor Willerslev is!
His microscopic genes turn so much of what we thought about human history upside down.
It’s breathtaking.”
Sir Stephen Fry
Year: 2025
Runtime: 100 minutes
Languages: English, Danish, French, Norwegian
Countries: Denmark, United Kingdom, Norway, Germany, Switzerland, United States
Premiere: World Premiere
Supported by The Danish Film Institute
In Association with TV2 Denmark
Produced by Move Copenhagen
Commissioning Consultant (DFI): Heidi Kim Andersen
Commissioning Consultant (TV2): Nikolaj Daugberg
Supported by Carlsberg Foundation, Lundbeck Foundation and Alberg
Director: Simon Lec
Producer: Jacob Levin Krogh
Director of Photography: Benjamin Kirk, DFF
Music: Simon Lec
Sound Design: Sylvester Holm & Frank Mølgaard Knudsen
Supervising Editor: Anders Villadsen
Editors: Simon Lec & Michael Bauer
Executive Producers: Kirstine Barfod, Andreas Koefoed, Jacob Levin Krogh, Benjamin Kirk, & Simon Lec
Cast: Eske Willerslev, Tharsika Vimala, Thomas Werge, Lasse Vinner, Marie Louise Schjellerup Jørkov, Sturla Elingvåg, Kurt H. Kjær, Fabrice Demeter, Rane Willerslev, Carl Zimmer, Anne Willerslev, William Barrie, Niobe Thompson, and more.
“We’re talking about the history of humanity. This isn’t an obscure corner of science that it’s hard for other people to appreciate. We all want to know about these questions.”
Carl Zimmer, New York Times