POV Magazine Review

The film serves as a notably feminist tribute to Dr. Widder as she does for marine life what Jane Goodall did for primates. Van Zandt features a candid interview with Dr. Widder that serves as the spine of the film. The scientist proves a very animated speaker and her colourful vernacular ensures that the science within A Life Illuminated is clear and accessible. That’s the product of the work that Dr. Widder’s been doing her entire adult life: furthering a field, a quest for knowledge, and an understanding of our planet far beyond the academic community.