Just 70,000 years ago, humans were only one of many animals. In fact, man’s original relationship with nature was based on commonality, not difference. It wasn’t until eras later that human superiority completely reordered cultures, rituals and values. In this award-winning visual essay, filmmaker Alessandro Cattaneo reminds us of the places and practices where traces of that shared existence still exist. In Italy, a curious religious festival celebrates snakes as the link between humans and nature, and a deeply intuitive relationship between horses and riders is observed in remote Sardinia. Jungian psychoanalysts and philosophers mark the shifts towards mastery over nature, and scenes of a beached whale take on a wholly different significance as the once-majestic animal is reduced to a mere prop in a stream of selfies. Inquisitive discussion accompanies profound cinematic compositions in this meditation on the natural world. Myrocia Watamaniuk
This film includes a pre-recorded Q&A.
The Changing Face of Europe program presented in partnership with
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