United States / Portugal / France 2023, 50 min, English and French, Hebrew & English subtitles

Although rocks, stones, and minerals seem to have no role in evolution, they are key players in the drama that has led to the emergence of life—and may yet lead to its extinction. Part science, part fiction, this film draws on rocks as both an archive and source of inspiration, blending together archeological findings, scientific discoveries, pure speculation, and stunning landscape and microscopic photography. The filmmaker weaves alternative narratives for the past and future of our universe using interviews and a range of literary, philosophical, and scientific texts, including a 19th-century sci-fi novella, Clarice Lispector’s The Hour of the Star, Marcia Bjørnerud’s thoughts on time literacy, and Donna Haraway’s cyber-feminism. In each of these, marvelous things happen in the universe when the story stops revolving around humans.

Previous Festivals: Sundance, Berlinale, Cinema Du Reel, True/False, Berwick Film and Media Art Festival

Artist and filmmaker Deborah Stratman makes work around issues of power, control and belief, exploring how places, ideas, and society are intertwined. She regards sound as the ultimate multi-tool and time to be supernatural. She lives in Chicago where she teaches at the University of Illinois.

Production: ANŽE PERŽIN, GAËLLE BOUCAND, DEBORAH STRATMAN
Production Company: Pythagoras Film
Script, Editing, Cinematography, Research & Sound Design: Deborah Stratman
Music: Olivia Block, Matchess, Okkyung Lee, Thomas Ankersmit, Nicolas Collins, Brian Eno

Source: Pythagoras Film

Supporters & Broadcasters: Embassy of Portugal in Tel Aviv, Israel and Camões - Institute for Cooperation and Language, I.P.