Microcosmos
A breathtaking macro-scale journey into the hidden dramas of insects, where ordinary meadow life becomes strange, beautiful, and epic.
Overview
Explore the hidden wonders of insect life through breathtaking visuals and intricate details.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- wondrous
- curious
- immersive
- quiet afternoon
- educational viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as a universally acclaimed, captivating nature documentary whose groundbreaking imagery turns insect behavior into cinematic wonder.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film repeatedly uses extraordinary close-ups of insects, spiders, snails, and other meadow creatures to recast an overlooked ecosystem as an expansive world.
Slow motion and time-lapse depict events including mosquito hatching, insect movement, mating, predation, and the scarab beetle's labor.
The observational footage, sparse narration, and emphasis on marvel transform everyday meadow life into a captivating visual poem.
Bees, ladybugs, caterpillars, spiders, snails, ants, scarabs, and mosquitoes appear in overlapping cycles of feeding, reproduction, labor, and survival.
Films like Microcosmos, and why
Baraka
poetic nature observation, immersive macro cinematography, and minimal verbal explanation
The Salt of the Earth
lyrical documentary imagery, contemplative pacing, and close attention to the natural world
Winged Migration
sensory nature filmmaking, patient observation, and awe at nonhuman life
The Private Life of Plants
accessible scientific subject matter transformed through beautiful, cinematic visual storytelling
Movie Details
- Directors
- Claude Nuridsany, Marie Pérennou
- Release Date
- 1996-09-06
- Runtime
- 80 min
- Rating
- 7.6 / 10 (269)
Cast
- Jacques Perrin
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Criterion Channel
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Microcosmos about?
- A breathtaking macro-scale journey into the hidden dramas of insects, where ordinary meadow life becomes strange, beautiful, and epic.
- What is Microcosmos like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Microcosmos as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Microcosmos violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Microcosmos as mild.
- What did critics think of Microcosmos?
- Critics broadly regard the film as a universally acclaimed, captivating nature documentary whose groundbreaking imagery turns insect behavior into cinematic wonder.
- Which films are like Microcosmos?
- Films with a similar feel include Baraka, The Salt of the Earth, Winged Migration, and The Private Life of Plants.
- How long is Microcosmos?
- Microcosmos runs 80 minutes.
- Where can I watch Microcosmos?
- In United States, Microcosmos streams on Criterion Channel.
