Humboldt in Mexico: The Vision of the Explorer

A grand film about German polymath Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859) is certainly warranted, given his enormous impact on natural sciences, influence on a European conception of "New Spain" (i.e., Mexico), opposition to slavery and early warnings about climate change, years-long exploration of Mexico (and its flora, fauna, minerals, and volcanoes), and his magnum opus—the 21-volume Kosmos, in which he concluded that the universe is a living, interconnected phenomenon. Filmmaker Ana Cruz mixes dramatic re-creations (with Alexander Holtmann in the role of Humboldt) and scholarly commentary to present an introduction to Humboldt and his extraordinary legacy, focusing more on his impact as a sometimes-daring naturalist (one anecdote describes how he walked on freshly-created, flimsy domes on an active volcano) than as a Romantic philosopher who saw all things as integrated. The film skillfully blends together extensive visual evidence of Humboldt’s comprehensive study of the physical Mexico, including rare minerals and his gorgeous lithographs of plants and animals. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (T. Keogh)