King of Clones (2023)

King of Clones (2023)

PG-13

netflix

A concise yet transparent chronicle of Dr. Hwang Woo-suk's advancements and missteps in cloning science

7.0

Movie

United Kingdom
English, Korean
Documentary
2023
ADITYA THAYI
George W. Bush, Hwang Woo-suk, Jung Ho-seok
85 min

TLDR

Double-check your moral compass because the promises of cloning can be more blinding than you think

What it's about

A look at the rise and fall of Hwang Woo-suk, the South Korean scientist who was once hailed as a national hero for his pioneering work in cloning.

The take

King of Clones tells the story of Hwang Woo-suk, a South Korean scientist once praised as a national hero for his pioneering work in cloning. However, Hwang's reputation was shattered in 2006 when it was revealed that he had falsified data in his research. The documentary follows Hwang's rise and fall, and it provides a fascinating glimpse into the world of scientific research and the ethical challenges that it raises. Through simplified explanations and testimonies from beneficiaries and journalists that exposed his fraudulent activities, the film remains accessible without losing its narrative. It also opens the conversation on the progress of cloning technology and the implications of not having ethics that can be agreed upon among the scientific community and the general public. 

What stands out

The most commendable decision made in this documentary is its choice to broaden the ethical impact of Dr. Hwang - and cloning technology - outside of the scientific community. Despite the sensitive subject of the possible "god complex," it does not shy away from including people who agree with Dr. Hwang. It does not assume where the audience stands on the topic. The implications of these advancements could change the future for better or worse, but their effect on the world needs us all to chime in.

Comments

Add a comment

UP NEXT 

UP NEXT 

UP NEXT 

How to Have Sex (2023)

A drunken summer vacation turns melancholy in this sober observation of teenage rites of passage

7.7

Spermworld (2024)

People take family planning into their own hands in this fascinating look into sperm donation online

7.3

White God (2014)

An unpleasant, bizarre, yet brilliant drama about the dark side of man and his best friend

7.3

Falling in Love Like in Movies (2023)

A contemplative Indonesian romance film that rewrites and re-examines the genre’s conventions

8.4

Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal (2024)

WWE’s best effort to pay tribute to Windham “Bray Wyatt” Rotunda

8.5

Leave the World Behind (2023)

Shyamalan meets Black Mirror in this hugely entertaining, visually inventive apocalyptic thriller with a killer ending

8.2

Hail Satan? (2019)

Forget everything you think you know about the Satanic Temple

8.0

The Antisocial Network: Memes to Mayhem (2024)

A bleak but amusing look at how ironic memes became the headline news

7.0

Wind River (2017)

Sicario's screenwriter directs this story of murder in an Indigenous reserve

9.4

Incendies (2011)

Part melodrama, part war thriller, Incendies is gorgeous and heartbreaking from the first scene

9.9

Curated by humans, not algorithms.

agmtw logo

© 2024 agoodmovietowatch, all rights reserved.