Metamorphosis
The Netherlands2023documentary98'Docs+Science (2024)
Maria Sibylla Meriam was Mary of flowers and butterflies. This 17th century German researcher was the precursor of entomology, ecology and developmental biology. The results of her unique observations, carried out throughout her lifetime, can be found in albums where the intimate life of insects was portrayed with scientific discipline and artistic talent. Pim Zwier, a Dutch filmmaker and photographer, walks in her footsteps subjecting viewers to an experiment aiming to test their patience and attentiveness. If they fall under the spell of the documentary’s meditative vein, they will tune in to the natural rhythm of nature studied by Meriam. If they become more alert, they will notice that ascetic ‘Metamorphosis’ is not solely about the transformation of insects.
- directed by
- Pim Zwier
An independent filmmaker/media-artist who studied at the Piet Zwart Institute in Rotterdam between 2001 and 2003. His work consists of documentaries, video-installations and photographs, and is often inspired by, and/or based upon, archive material and collections. For his documentary films he has a preference to work with correspondences, diaries or autobiographies in which 'small history' has been recorded. These provide Zwier with the opportunity to link the abstraction of historical events to memories; a link which completes and nuances history, and provides new perspectives.
- cinematography
- Aage Hollander, Pim Zwier
- script
- Pim Zwier
- cast
- Carly Wijs, Sieger Sloot, Tsead Bruinja, Pierre Bokma, Jonathan Huisman
- music
- Holland Baroque
- sound
- Menno Euwe, Paul Gies
- editing
- Pim Zwier
- production
- Carolijn Borgdorff (Moondocs)
- Photo
- Trailer