METAMORPHOSIS - OFFICIAL TRAILER

Netherlands 2023 | 97 min | 4K | 5.1

A film about Maria Sibylla Merian and caterpillars … many caterpillars. About the relationship between caterpillars and their host plant, thus about ecology. A film about Merian’s wonderful work, but also about how she used enslaved people for her research on the insects of Suriname.

From IDFA’s catalogue: “In Metamorphosis, filmmaker and media artist Pim Zwier chooses a highly original form to depict the life and work of the German artist Maria Sibylla Merian (1647-1717) Zwier subtly sets 17th-century drawings and paintings in motion. He also uses actors to bring historical sources to life. His own observations play a central role: for Metamorphosis, originally a photography project, Zwier started breeding caterpillars himself to document their pupation in close-up. The film includes stunning footage of the process. This combination of nature documentary, costume drama and art project offers a fascinating insight into Merian’s adventurous life, as well as into one of nature’s most mysterious metamorphoses.”

Featuring: Carly Wijs, Sieger Sloot, Tsead Bruinja, Pierre Bokma, Jonathan Huisman

Director: script, editor, camera caterpillars: Pim Zwier

DOP re-enacted scenes: Aage Hollander

Sound: Menno Euwe

Sound design: Paul Gies

Music: Holland Baroque

Costumes: Aleksandra Pershay

Produced by: Moondocs

This film was supported by: The Netherlands Film Fund and the Netherlands Film Production Incentive

Fonds 21, The Prince Bernhard Culture Fund and the Prince Bernhard Culture Fund Documentary Stipend