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Microcosmos

Original title: Microcosmos : le peuple de l'herbe
  • 1996
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 20m
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
12K
YOUR RATING
Microcosmos (1996)
Nature DocumentaryDocumentary

A documentary on insect life in meadows and ponds.A documentary on insect life in meadows and ponds.A documentary on insect life in meadows and ponds.

  • Directors
    • Claude Nuridsany
    • Marie Pérennou
  • Writers
    • Claude Nuridsany
    • Marie Pérennou
  • Stars
    • Kristin Scott Thomas
    • Jacques Perrin
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.9/10
    12K
    YOUR RATING
    • Directors
      • Claude Nuridsany
      • Marie Pérennou
    • Writers
      • Claude Nuridsany
      • Marie Pérennou
    • Stars
      • Kristin Scott Thomas
      • Jacques Perrin
    • 50User reviews
    • 45Critic reviews
    • 87Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 9 wins & 9 nominations total

    Photos64

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    Top cast2

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    Kristin Scott Thomas
    Kristin Scott Thomas
    • Narrator (English version)
    • (voice)
    Jacques Perrin
    Jacques Perrin
    • Récitant
    • (voice)
    • …
    • Directors
      • Claude Nuridsany
      • Marie Pérennou
    • Writers
      • Claude Nuridsany
      • Marie Pérennou
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews50

    7.911.9K
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    Featured reviews

    10snikrepkire

    My jaw was literally dropped through some of this film.

    Amazing. There must have been millions of hours of footage shot to obtain these perfect sequences of magnified nature. Each segment was fascinating, beautiful, in some cases strangely emotional.

    My jaw was literally dropped through much of this film. I even found myself wowing like a hippy and chuckling like Butthead many times. There were even some moments that I almost said, "No, that's not realistic. They made that up."

    The soundtrack was almost non-existent, so you appreciated it more when the haunting music worked its way into a scene. The sound quality of the actual critters was very good as well. There is nearly no narrative or narration throughout the film -and that would be my only criticism -there should have been NONE. The movie was spectacular with no commentary, and the human voice for a brief moment in the beginning and end detracted from the alien environment.

    This movie was not a documentary, it was just fine filmmaking that would only fall into the genre of "mind-f---".
    10cmosling

    A nature film done by the French

    The technology of the human race has finally let us truly see the marvels of what lies beneath our feet every day. I don't know how a documentary on insects could ever succeed with out some guy's deep soothing voice come in to tell us what the heck was going on but this movie proved that it can defiantly be done. Micro Cosmos actually make me feel small for not realizing what happens in the real world of insects. If you thought "A Bugs Life" was cool in terms of the technical aspects, after watching this, you will know where they got they're ideas from. I have no interest in bugs, but if youre ready to be enlightened; this will do it for you.
    laxy56

    Great camera work, no narration

    The film shows some amazing pictures, the one thing it is missing is some narration that would help people understand the things they see. At least, naming the insects would be nice. Also without narration many very interesting events portrayed are likely to be either missed or misunderstood (eg a very funny shot of orchid attracting a drone by looking like a young bee queen, and many other things too).
    10Mikew3001

    Fascinating and beautiful!

    "Microcosmos" is definitely one of the best animal documentary movies ever made! It's not about the most bizarre and exotic animals somewhere in Africa, but shows the all-day life of tiny insects like flies, spiders, bugs, ants, frogs, worms and snails in a French forest. There are nearly no comments, but well-chosen classical music adds a fascinating rhythm, dynamics and atmosphere to the stunning pictures... the French filmmakers just don't watch the tiny animals like scientists, but point out the beauty of their appearances, movements, actions and searches for food. Every single insect appears like painted from an artist and is shown in full close-up so that you can discover many new sides about the small animals somewhere in your own garden... and if you've watched a really romantic love scene by two snails know what "natural beauty" really means... highly recommended!
    9ccthemovieman-1

    Up Close And Personal - With Insects!

    This is a French-made nature film that features a lot of closeup photography. Much of that footage is amazing stuff. How they got closeups that sharp on these insects is a tribute to the camera lenses available today and the expertise and patience of the photographers.

    Some of the shots are so close that, at first, you don't know what insect you're seeing. Other insects are not familiar ones you'd recognize, anyway. Some are really strange-looking.

    The colors, the wild shapes and actions of these creatures all make a for a fascinating movie in parts, one that literally all ages should enjoy, as the cliché goes. I found, however, that with no dialog, it was tough to watch more than 30 minutes at one time. You might want to break this up into two or three segments. There is sound, however: the sound these insects make. With the camera-work, it makes you feel as if you, too, were a small object on the ground listening to these strange sounds.

    Obviously, this is a unique film and highly recommended.

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    Related interests

    Our Planet (2019)
    Nature Documentary
    Dziga Vertov in Man with a Movie Camera (1929)
    Documentary

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Filmed over a period of three years.
    • Quotes

      Narrator (English version): [beginning narration] A meadow in early morning, somewhere on Earth. Hidden here is a world as vast as our own, where the weeds are like impenetrable jungles, the stones are mountains, and even the smallest pond becomes an ocean. Time passes differently here: an hour is like a day, a day is like a season, and the passing of a season is a lifetime. But to observe this world, we must fall silent now, and listen to its murmurs.

    • Crazy credits
      In the end credits: Le Conseil Général de L'Aveyron and SIVOM des Monts et Lacs du Lévezou extend the adventure in the world of insects at the Jean-Henri Fabre Center of Saint-Léons in Lévezou, opening in 1998.
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Star Trek: First Contact/Shine/Jingle All the Way/Sling Blade/Microcosmos (1996)

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    FAQ18

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 6, 1996 (Switzerland)
    • Countries of origin
      • France
      • Switzerland
      • Italy
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Çayırın Sakinleri
    • Filming locations
      • Monts et Lacs du Lévézou, Aveyron, France
    • Production companies
      • Galatée Films
      • France 2 Cinéma
      • Canal+
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • CHF 5,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,433,210
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $35,189
      • Oct 13, 1996
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,433,210
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 20m(80 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

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