Telling the story of the late French Jesuit priest and scientist, the documentary, "TEILHARD: Visionary Scientist," masterfully weaves together themes from his life, including scientific adventure, the search for meaning, unresolved conflict with authority, the primacy of spirit, and the power of love.
“Someday, after mastering the winds, the waves, the tides and gravity, we shall harness for God the energies of love, and then, for the second time in the history of the world, we will have discovered fire.” These words of Teilhard open the film, framing the journey of the two-hour biographical film that spans from his birth on May 1, 1881, in Orcines, France, to his death on Easter Sunday, April 10, 1955, in New York City.
Teilhard develops a passion for geology and paleontology, fostered in his childhood by hikes with his father exploring neighboring volcanic mountains. He becomes a Jesuit priest, based on a deep spirituality fostered by his mother, who home schooled him.
The words of Teilhard himself provide the main thread that leads the viewer through the events of his life, supplemented by interviews with experts from the fields of science and religion, as well as through conversations with family and friends.