Saturday, October 31, 2009

The Botany of Desire (2009)

Based of Michael Pollan's book The Botany of Desire, this two hour PBS Special explores human attraction to certain plants and how these plants adapt to our changing desires. In this documentary, four basic plants are discussed: the apple, potato, tulip, and marijuana.

This was a very informative and entertaining film to watch. I was surprised to learn how these four plants have such an impact on society, such as the Dutch "Tulip Mania" in 1637. It was also very interesting to learn scientifically why certain plants have such an effect on humans. Of course, the movie was also full of very beautiful images, making it quite enjoyable to watch.

I would recommend this movie to anyone. Because the presentation covers a wide variety of topics, including biology, neurology, economics, agriculture, history, and current events, it definitely encompasses a wide range of interests.

One thing is for sure after watching this movie; I have a new appreciation for the apple!