Ken Burns Classroom

Ken Burns Films

Emperor of All Maladies

Human prostate cancer cells
Human prostate cancer cells (blue). Dr. Gopal Murti/Visuals Unlimited/Corbis. SEM

Matches the epic scale of the disease, reshaping the way the public sees cancer and stripping away some of the fear and misunderstanding that has long surrounded it. The story of cancer is a story of human ingenuity, resilience, and perseverance but also of hubris, paternalism and misperception.  Cancer: The Emperor of All Maladiesexamines cancer with a cellular biologist’s precision, a historian’s perspective and a biographer’s passion. The series artfully weaves three different films in one: a riveting history documentary; an engrossing and intimate vérité film; and a scientific and investigative report.