A personal portrait of the inspired neuroscientist
"In Search of Memory" is a very personal portrait of Eric Kandel, the "rock star" of neuroscience and the most important brain researcher of the 20th century. A fascinating documentary about the exciting mystery of the brain which arouses a curiosity in life and learning.
Nobel laureate Eric Kandel has been researching the human brain for fifty years. In her documentary, director Petra Seeger portrays the charismatic scientist of Jewish origin who has managed to transform his own painful experiences during the Holocaust into an immensely positive energy with which he has researched the fundamentals of human activity. The film artfully interweaves Kandel’s search for his own roots in Vienna and New York with affectionately staged scientific sequences and reveals the fascinating connection between Kandel’s biography and his work. And so a comprehensive picture of a brilliant scientist emerges who captivates audiences with his sweeping charm.
»We are who we are because of what we learn and what we remember.« Eric Kandel
»"In Search of Memory" is a passionate journey of discovery through the life and work of the brilliant and indomitable neurobiologist Eric Kandel who has illuminated the essential principles of memory with his pioneering work. Petra Seeger’s film examines not only the psychology and neuroscience of the past century, but also the essence of art and science, history and memory, life and love, inspiration and achievement.« Oliver Sacks
»This film just makes you happy.« Eckart von Hirschhausen
Festivals / film awards
- 2011: Hugo Television Awards, Certificate of Merit 2011
- 2011: International Science Film Festival of Athens, GR, Athena Science Prize
- 2010: GlaxoSmithKline Stiftung, DE, Publizistikpreis
- 2009: Bavarian Film Awards, DE, Best Documentary
- 2009: Biografilm Festival Bologna, IT
- 2009: Hachenburger Filmfest des Neuen Deutschen Films, DE, DOK-Film-Löwe
- 2009: International Scientific Film Festival, Szolnok, HU, 3rd Prize of the Scientific Film Festival
- 2009: World Media Festival, Hamburg, DE, Intermedia-Globe Gold
Production funding
Distribution funding