The Man Who Stole Einstein's Brain

US Premiere

The brain of Albert Einstein has never been laid to rest. Although the iconic genius died in 1955, pieces of the brain that changed our view of the universe have roamed the world ever since, in mayonnaise jars, cardboard boxes and car trunks. Yet the man behind the brain’s bizarre afterlife has remained a shadowy figure. But in this intimate portrait of Dr. Thomas Stoltz Harvey, The Man Who Stole Einstein’s Brain reveals the stranger-than-fiction saga of an obsession that lasted half a century.

Upon Einstein’s death, Dr. Thomas Stoltz Harvey, the chief pathologist at Princeton Hospital, conducted the autopsy. While the family prepared for the body’s burial, Harvey covertly maneuvered to keep the esteemed physicist’s brain, hoping research could reveal the secrets to its brilliance and bring him acclaim. But after cutting the brain into 240 pieces for research, Harvey learns brain science is not up to the job and that he can never escape the power of Einstein’s celebrity. Instead of becoming his ticket to scholarly fame, the brain leads to his undoing like a cursed relic.

With shades of the tragic and comic, this poignant account touches on humanity’s age-old fascination with genius, the seductive maw of celebrity, and the price of ambition. It features a rich archive, rare access to Harvey’s own recorded words and letters, and interviews with a colorful cast of characters, among them Harvey’s children and co-workers.

Accompanying the film premiere is a discussion with director Michelle Shephard and producer Carolyn Abraham. To view the conversation please click here.