1967 Youtube — Helga Film

The 1967 West German film (English title: Helga: On the Origins of Human Life

: It was viewed by roughly 40 million people worldwide, including 4 million in West Germany within its first few months. helga film 1967 youtube

However, the execution was revolutionary. The film followed the titular character, Helga, through courtship, marriage, and pregnancy. Utilizing the best technology of the age, it included graphic footage of conception and the first-ever cinematic use of to show the development of a fetus. The 1967 West German film (English title: Helga:

Produced by renowned sex educator Oswalt Kolle and directed by Erich F. Bender, Helga was commissioned by the Federal Ministry of Health. Its stated purpose was noble: to combat the spread of venereal disease and educate the West German public about reproduction. Utilizing the best technology of the age, it

It’s easy to laugh at Helga —the stiff acting, the dramatic organ music, the talking mannequin. But context matters. In the 1960s, sex education in most of the Western world was either nonexistent or shame-based. Helga was groundbreaking for its calm, scientific, and non-judgmental tone.

Context to look for while watching