NFB Collection
The Origins of AIDS
20031 h 31 min 33 secFilm: Documentary
Direction: Peter ChappellCatherine Peix
Production: Christine Le GoffArnie GelbartMichel CreponChristine Pireaux
Script: Peter ChappellStéphane HorelArnie Gelbart
Co-produced by Galafilm Productions, Multimedia France Productions, Pathé Archives, Les Films de la Passerelle, RTBF (Télévision Belge) and Produce+; with the participation of the Canadian Television Fund, SODEC, the Québec film and televison tax credit, the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit; with the collaboration of Radio-Canada and CBC Television; with the support and participation of Cosip, PROCIREP - Société de Producteurs, ANGOA - AGICOA, Programme MEDIA de la Communauté Européenne, Centre du Cinéma et de l'Audiovisuel de la Communauté française de Belgique et des télédistributeurs wallons, Centre National de la Cinématographie et Ministère Délégué à la Recherche et aux Nouvelles Technologies; in association with Channel 4; and with the participation of France 2, La Télévision Suisse Romande, TV5 Monde, Canal+ Espagne and SBS TV Australie.
This title is an acquisition.
More than 20 years after the AIDS epidemic started, we still do not know its origins. We know for sure that AIDS was born from contact between humans and chimpanzees infected by the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), a virus very similar to HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). But where, when and how did the devastating contact occur?
Many believe that the answer is hidden in the research undertaken by scientist Hilary Koprowski to find a cure to the polio epidemic. Between 1957 and 1960, Koprowski injected his experiemental vaccine into almost one million Africans. To manufacture his vaccine, Koprowski had to use monkeys, and evidence proves that he used chimpanzees.
With fingers pointed squarely at it, the scientific community is torn by dissension. This award-winning documentary suggests that as scientists tried to rid the world of polio, they may have caused an epidemic that has killed millions worldwide. As the scientific community's ethical responsibilities are called into question, the debate over the origins of AIDS rages on.
Subject categories
- Health and Medicine > AIDSResearch
- Developing Countries > Africa
- Science > Biology
- Social Studies > Development/Global Issues
- Health/Personal Development > Disease Prevention
- Media Education > Documentary Film
Credits
- director
- Peter Chappell
- Catherine Peix
- writer
- Peter Chappell
- Stéphane Horel
- Arnie Gelbart
- producer
- Christine Le Goff
- Arnie Gelbart
- Michel Crepon
- Christine Pireaux
- editor
- Catherine Peix
- original music
- Frédéric Lagnau
- director of photography
- Peter Chappell
- Peter Krieger
- Jorge Martinho
- production manager
- Philippine Gelberger
- Sylvia Wilson
- Janet Torge
- Jean-Yves Roubin
- camera
- Raphaël O'Byrne
- Mark Daniels
- sound recordist
- Nicolas Dalban
- Andrew Morris
- Serge Bouvier
- Craig Lapp
- Vincent Depas
- Sébastien Faure
- archive researcher
- Murray Nicol
- Marie-Lise Betemps
- Riel Lazarus
- Judith Aley
- Alexandra Bell
- Didier Scoubeau
- additional editing
- Julie Chabot
- Mariano Franco
- Jean-Marie Drot
- sound editing
- David Gertsman
- Scott Donald
- re-recording mixer
- Philippe Espantoso
- narrator
- Lynne Adams
- production coordinator
- Heidi Besner
- post-production coordinator
- Christina Thompson