esrosedotblog

BUGGED OUT

Today's NYTimes Best 1176 Film was

Microcosmos: Le peuple de l'herbe / Microcosmos (1997)

This down to earth documentary gets close to the ground; so close that all we see are insects.

It is a non-invasive (meaning virtually no-talk) nature study; arty and whimsical rather than scientific.

Oh, I suppose we learn a few things we didn't know about insects but I don't think that is the point so much as the shear visual beauty of these largely ignored creatures.

The space of time is one day which, of course, is a lifetime to many insects.

They eat, sleep, have sex, fight, propogate, all that.

Sometimes, the technology of the lens and the actual sounds of the bugs overtakes the material.

Rather than saying 'wow' to the natural, we are admiring the work of the people making the film.

Not good. A little more invisibility is called for.

On the other hand, if there wasn't admirable work there wouldn't be much of a film.

It is an hour long which is just enough. Even at that, I was getting a little sleepy.

I will give it a 4 out of Netflix5 just because I wanted a bit more information and less silent beauty.

Yeh, I know. That is a different film. But I bet I wouldn't have gotten sleepy before the hour was up and might even be able to hang 90 minutes. Some brain exercise please.