In 1965, LIFE Magazine published Swedish photographer Lennart Nilsson’s striking images of human fetuses. The issue, with its iconic cover, sold out 8 million copies in days - matching the sell-out numbers of issues covering the moon landing and JFK’s assassination. On the very first page, readers encountered the caption: Living 18-week-old fetus.

 

Life Through a Lens tells the untold story behind these photos—images that shaped how we see life and became powerful symbols in the abortion debate, especially in the U.S. Over the years, the images took on a life of their own, used in everything from anti-abortion propaganda and parental counseling to sex education, advertising, and Hollywood films. Praised for their beauty and scientific detail, few know the complex reality behind their creation. By blurring the line between art and science, Nilsson’s work helped shape moral and political beliefs that still echo today. Can we truly trust what we see?

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Life Through a Lens is currently in development.We are actively seeking co-production partners, archive collaborators, and international distributors who share our passion for bold, visually striking storytelling and investigative filmmaking.

If you're interested in learning more or getting involved, please don’t hesitate to get in touch:

Andreas Eidhagen, andreas@the-motor.com
Annika Gritti, annika@the-motor.com

Director & producer at The Motor