Diatoms

A calm, curious look at microscopic life that makes the invisible feel vast and strangely beautiful.

Directed by

Geneviève Hamon, Jean Painlevé

Genres

Documentary

Starring

Carola Meierrose

Overview

The one-celled long and slender diatom, up close: discovered in 1703 with the invention of the microscope. We observe them magnified 10,000 times: water expelled through the skeleton, mucilage constantly emitted, allowing it to glide. Their energy comes from sunlight. They divide and disperse. The narrator, conversing with a young woman, says their remains cover one-third of the earth's surface. They have uses in petroleum, explosives, and polish. Some live in isolation, some in colonies, like elaborate fans. They can move in clusters. Many small animals eat them. We watch them slide on each other in long strings.

How it feels

Earnest and warm. Measured and needs your attention.

About

Nature, science, isolation, survival

Content

No violence, gore, sexual content or swearing.

Note

Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown

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