Search - Mapping Stem Cell Research: Terra Incognita on DVD

A Remarkable Documentary on an Often Misunderstood Area of R

David Crumm | Canton, Michigan | 05/31/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"As founding editor of the online magazine, ReadTheSpirit, one of our founding principles is that our search for Truth must take us into unexpected territory -- and that one of our deepest spiritual concerns must be for the lives of people living around us. My strong recommendation of this new documentary is based on those two principles.

On balance, the film takes a pro-research point of view -- and it's part of the intelligent dialogue we are called to have with the world, as people of faith. The people you'll meet in this film have strong moral and spiritual principles at work in their lives, as well, even if their individual spiritual paths may not coincide with our own.

What's more, you'll almost certainly come away from this documentary learning something new about the nature of this scientific research. The film charts an intriguing series of experiments at Northwestern University that suggest stem cells may hold potential in healing spinal-cord injuries. Watch for yourself and you'll see the work spelled out -- as well as the research's limitations.

You'll certainly meet some fascinating people who've agreed to vulnerably and honestly share their life stories with us. Unless you've a heart of stone -- and few of us do -- you'll warm immediately to the stories of two young women with spinal-cord injuries who open their lives to us in the film. These are bright, funny, multi-talented women who you'll enjoy meeting. And, it's important that we do meet folks like this, because this issue ultimately is about human life.

I appreciate that the producers and the central scientist in the film, Dr. Jack Kessler, insisted on opening up issues of religious belief throughout the 83-minute documentary. Now, you may take issue with the way Kessler and a colleague at Northwestern sketch out religious points of view. There's an eloquent Catholic ethicist who appears in the film, as well -- and you may agree or disagree with him as you watch this movie.

That's precisely why the film is a great choice for small groups. Buy a copy and watch it with your Bible study group, your weekly prayer group, your monthly discussion circle. You'll have plenty to talk about when this film ends."