Film Lens
The documentary examines the thalidomide disaster, which led to the birth of thousands of deformed babies worldwide. It focuses on the case of Linda Schula Hillan, who gave birth to a child with short arms in Hamburg, Germany, in 1961. The film details her and her husband Carl Herman's quest to uncover the cause of their son's deformities, linking it to the drug thalidomide, which was marketed as safe for pregnant women despite early warning signs of its dangers.
The narrative unfolds with historical context, starting from the first known victim born in 1956 in Akan, Germany, whose mother had taken thalidomide. The film shows the negligence of the drug company Grunenthal, which ignored multiple opportunities to address the emerging crisis. It also discusses the ongoing impact of thalidomide, including the continued birth of deformed babies in countries with lax regulations, and the fight for compensation by affected families.
Why Watch
- •See how thalidomide affected families like Linda's.
- •Find out why Grunenthal ignored early warning signs.
- •Meet the parents fighting for justice decades later.
Did You Know
•The thalidomide disaster affected over 46 countries.
•Up to 20,000 deformed babies were born worldwide due to thalidomide.
•Linda Schula Hillan gave birth to her son with deformities in 1961.
•The first victim of thalidomide was born on Christmas Day 1956.
•Grunenthal launched thalidomide on the German market nine months after the first deformed baby was born.
Perfect For
Medical ethicsPharmaceutical historySocial justice advocacy