CPH:DOX 2025 – Human Race

Led by Professor Eske Willerslev, a team of international scientists embark on a monumental mission. They have five years to map the genomes of five thousand people who have been buried underground for thousands of years. As the DNA library grows, Willerslev and his team discover new insights into who we are. Have mental illnesses like depression, ADHD and autism always been ingrained in human DNA? And is it possible that mental illness is actually intimately connected to what it means to be human? Director Simon Lec and his crew followed Willerslev for five years, documenting his personal and professional life. The result is an intimate portrayal of a strong, competitive scientist and his goal to leave his mark on the history and future of humanity. But it is also a heartwarming story of a man who has always felt different and struggled to fit in – a struggle that his scientific project finally forces him to confront.