Featuring Michael Pollan and based on his best-selling book, this special takes viewers on an eye-opening exploration of the human relationship with the plant world - seen from the plants' point of view. Narrated by Frances McDormand, the program shows how four familiar species - the apple, the tulip, marijuana and the potato - evolved to satisfy our yearnings for sweetness, beauty, intoxication and control.
Deleted Scenes:
- Bringing Back Hard Cider: Steven Wood explains the challenges of re-introducing Americans to a forgotten beverage with an elegant history;
- How The Delicious Apple Got Its Name: The story of a bright red apple that has become an American icon;
- Like A Florist From 100 Years Ago: Teresa Sabankaya not only sells antique roses -- she grows most of the flowers in her shop; and
- Racing the Clock: The Dutch Auction: Aalsmeer is the Wall Street of the flower world, where prices are set in a descending-bid system known as 'the Dutch auction.'
Panel Discussion:
The Botany of Desire: Perspectives from the Arts, Humanities and Sciences: A panel of professors from UC Berkeley discusses the interdisciplinary importance of The Botany of Desire.
Bonus Footage:
Additional footage from Michael Pollan's interview: Some fascinating historical and botanical facts that didn't make it into the documentary. Including:
The apple: from Rome to America
Applejack: even harder than hard cider
Johnny Appleseed: the American Dionysus
Beyond sweetness
The tulip: too common to appreciate?
Clusius and the cult of the tulip
Hemp vs. marijuana
Coffee and other plant drugs
The potato in Europe
Growing the NewLeaf potato
Producer: Michael Schwarz
Production Year: 2008
Rating: TV-PG
Narrator: Frances McDormand
Writers: Michael Pollan
Number of Discs: 1
Length: 120 minutes
Language Track: English
Audio Format: 5.1 Surround
Aspect Ratio: 16x9 Widescreen