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The Voyage that Shook the World
From A Storehouse of Knowledge
The Voyage that Shook the World is a dramatised documentary film about Charles Darwin and the impact that his theory of evolution has had on the world. The award-winning film was released in 2009 in connection with the 200th anniversary of the birth of Darwin and the 150th anniversary of the publication of his book, On the Origin of Species. The film includes interviews with a range of evolutionary, creationary, and intelligent design scientists. Controversy followed the release of the film, with a few of the evolutionary scientists complaining that they didn't realise that the film was produced by creationists.
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Description
The film includes re-enactments of events in the life of Darwin as a child, on board the Beagle around Tierra del Fuego, and as an adult and older man at home. It also has footage shot on site in Tierra del Fuego and the Galapagos islands, as well as in Darwin's home.
It points out that as well as planning on becoming a vicar, Darwin was influenced by his grandfather's evolutionary (Lamarckian) views and Charles Lyell's uniformitarian views which aimed to "liberate science from Moses".
The documentary includes interviews with various scientists and philosophers:[1]
- Professor Peter Bowler, Ph.D., Science Historian and author, Queen's University, Belfast
- Professor Janet Browne, Ph.D., Science Historian and author, Harvard University
- Craig Buckley, zoologist, Cambridge University
- Professor Stuart Burgess, Ph.D., Design & Nature, Bristol University
- Dr. Rob Carter, Ph.D. in marine biology, CMI scientist/speaker
- Professor Phil Currie, Ph.D., Paleontologist, University of Alberta
- Professor Sandra Herbert, Ph.D., Science historian and author, University of Maryland
- Dr. Cornelius Hunter, Ph.D., (University of Illinois), Molecular Biophysicist and author.
- Dr. Jan Komdeur, Professor of Avian Evolutionary Ecology, University of Groningen
- Professor Matti Leisola, D.Sc., biochemist, professor of bioprocess engineering, Helsinki University of Technology.
- Dr. Bryan Milstead, Ph.D., Head of Research, Charles Darwin Research Station, Galapagos
- Alvin Plantinga, John A. O'Brien Professor of Philosophy, University of Nôtre Dame
- Professor Tapio Puolimatka, philosopher, Finland
- Dr. Emil Silvestru, Ph.D., geologist and karstologist, CMI scientist/speaker
Production and distribution
The film was commissioned by Creation Ministries International following a suggestion by CMI scientist Emil Silvestru.[2] The million-dollar film was largely paid for by donations from supporters, following an appeal for funds.
The film had a limited screening in some Australian cinemas, and has been broadcast on the History Channel.[2] It has also been released on DVD, with subtitles in multiple languages.
Review
The noted conservative Christian reviewer, Dr. Ted Baehr of Movieguide, wrote:
This fascinating documentary is not a hatchet job or a propaganda piece. Instead, it lets Darwin speak for himself and presents his story through the eyes of professors and others who admire the man. In the process, however, his flaws, confusion and false theories emerge. ...
This is one of the best-produced documentaries ever made.[3]
Award
The film won a 2009 gold award for a dramatised documentary in the Queensland and Northern Territory division of the Australian Cinematographers Society.[4]
Controversy
At least two of the scientists interviewed for the film later complained that they didn't know that the film was being made by creationists, with one trying to refund their appearance fee. Professor Bowler told the BBC[5] that he was concerned that viewers might be left with the wrong impression of his views, although so far nobody has claimed that they were misrepresented, and according to Creation Ministries International[6], one interviewee said that "They didn’t actually distort what we said, but did cherry-pick the comments." (CMI's response is that "cherry picking" comments is normal procedure for documentary makers having to select which parts of interviews to use.)
There were also claims that since Creation Ministries established a spinoff company, Fathom Media, for the express purpose of not prejudicing the interviews by revealing that this was a creationist film, they had obtained their interviews deceitfully and were thus in violation of the ninth Commandment. The CEO of Creation Ministries UK rejected the insinuation that they had lied, and said that they were concerned that they would not have been able to obtain the interviews otherwise due to unmerited stigma upon the word "creationism" and that the focus should instead be on the quality of the finished film.[5] CMI have since said that the reaction has confirmed their concerns.[6]
External link
- Official site (includes trailers)
Bibliography
- Baehr, Ted, TV Review: The Voyage that Shook the World, 1 May 2000.
- Crawley, William, Creationists defend Darwin film, Will and Testament: William Crawley's Blog, BBC, 21 June 2009.
- Did CMI ‘lie’ in making The Voyage?, 27 June 2009
- Wieland, Carl, In Charles Darwin’s footsteps, 22 April 2009.
