Pourquoi les femmes sont-elles plus petites que les hommes ?

All over the world, women are shorter than men on average. Even among Northern Europeans, currently the tallest people in the world, men are around 15 centimetres taller than women. However, there are animal species in which the females are taller than the males. Sexual dimorphism - the scientific term - also has some surprises in store: For example, female blue whales are larger than their male counterparts. As blue whales are the largest mammals in the world, this means that the largest animal in the world is female. So why are its human relatives so small? Scientists from France, Great Britain, Italy, Germany and the USA have investigated this highly interesting question. They tell a fascinating evolutionary story in which biology, medicine, paleoanthropology, nutritional science, sociology, obstetrics and gynecology interact and in which the female comes out on top.

Directed by Véronique Kleiner, Pourquoi les femmes sont-elles plus petites que les hommes ? leans on a strong ensemble — Sophia Aram — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about documentary titles of 2014.