Life's Greatest Miracle (2001)

Abstract

"A remake of Lennart Nilsson's world famous film "Miracle of Life," this completely updated edition tells the inside-the-womb story of human life from conception to birth using the latest technological advances in microscopy and medical imaging" [description from http://www.shoppbs.org/product/index.jsp?productId=1402972&cp=1378003.1412584&pg=7&parentPage=family]. "From the creators of the world-famous film "Miracle of Life" comes a spectacular new look at the journey we all travel - from conception to birth. Once again, Lennart Nilsson's cameras take us into the mysterious and beautiful world of the human body, capturing incredible never-before-seen footage. Among the highlights - a new take on the old story of how egg and sperm find each other, a dramatic view of the six-day-old embryo as it escapes from its confining shell, and a unique look at the creation of blood vessels and organs like the eyes and the brain. Stunning moments like these are interwoven with the story of a young couple preparing to welcome their first child, climaxing with an unblinking and intimate portrait of birth. Life's Greatest Miracle goes deper. Computer animation reveals the inner workings of cells inside the embryo, as master control genes switch on and off, orchestrating each crucial step in a baby's development. One such momentous change is the cascade of chemical reactions that determine whether the bmryo will be a boy or a girl. It takes countless milestones to turn an undifferentiated clump of cells into a baby. Normally, it all happens in the dark. But Nilsson brings it beautifully to light." [description from the DVD case] Written by Julia Cort, medical photography by Lennart Nilsson, and narrated by John Lithgow.