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Microcosmos: Le peuple de l'herbe (1996) More at IMDbPro »

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45 comments in total

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13 out of 13 people found the following comment useful :-
Up Close And Personal - With Insects!, 30 November 2006

Author: ccthemovieman-1 from Lockport, NY, United States

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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12 out of 12 people found the following comment useful :-
Amazing detail of another world, 19 July 2004

Author: raymond-15 from Australia

This film gives an incredible account of insects and other little creatures many of which are known to home gardeners who are continually fighting a battle against them. But here we see the insect life in all its intriguing detail and wondrous colour. The photography is superb. It's a pity more attention was not given to the sound which comes and goes in an unpredictable fashion. There is very little commentary so one must just accept the beauty of each particular shot. One does not have to be a zoologist to enjoy this strange world the inhabiatnts of which outnumber humans on planet earth.

There is some sound e.g. the flutter of wings and the buzzing of bees but much of the film is silent as one might expect in a world of insects. Music accompanies some of the scenes adding a degree of drama. Two slimy snails are seen touching and fondling each other indicating unmistakably that foreplay has begun and sexual union will follow as the choral music climaxes. The photographers must have a rare patience to record such intimate and detailed incidents.

The film is not without its humorous moments. I thought the caterpillars marching in single file were an absolute gem and evoked genuine laughter. Fascinating too was Mr. Spider working at lightning speed as he wrapped in a shroud his most unfortunate victim.

I found it even more enjoyable on second viewing.

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13 out of 14 people found the following comment useful :-
I knew it was unbelievable, but I didn't expect it to be THAT good, 29 June 2003

Author: Danila Medvedev

I saw the Winged Migration before this one and I though that was the most beautiful and amazing films ever made. I never though I would be proved wrong soon. Microcosmos has everything Winged Migration has, such as amazing cinematography, beautiful music and the best studio ever, our planet, it also has something more - the whole new world to show that most people don't realise exists. "Look at your feet, this funny world." starts the beautiful song while the opening credits roll and we are treated to a beautiful flight through the clouds. The camera pans down, to the forest and then lower still. Thus starts the most amazing journey you ever saw on film and for the next hour you can't take your eyes of the screen.

Palm trees, anakondas, space aliens... Grass and insects actully, but shown in the way you never thought possible. Who would have known that the sight of two snails making tender love is so cute and lovely, that spiders are so scary, dung-beetles are so funny and waterdrops so heavy? Watch how grass grows, flowers open in the morning, insects eat plants, plants eat insects, insects make love to other insects, plants and vice versa, chrysalis change into butterfly, etc., etc. And did I mention tender snail lovemaking? :)

There is whole new world under our feet. Everything so small and so amazingly beautiful at the same time. Don't let it stay unnoticed. Go and watch this film immediately (and see Winged Migration as well).

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15 out of 18 people found the following comment useful :-
My jaw was literally dropped through some of this film., 10 December 2001

Author: Erik (snikrepkire) from Maine, USA

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---".

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11 out of 11 people found the following comment useful :-
A nature film done by the French, 18 June 1999

Author: anonymous from Sarasota FL

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.

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8 out of 8 people found the following comment useful :-
Aliens in my backyard, 16 November 2005

Author: kakihara83 from Canada

I always liked to watch animal documantaries on Discovery Channel. It was a lonely night, my girlfriend was asleep and I had insomnia so I thought it would help me relax to watch this. It was my first viewing experience of this kind. Now I just want to watch every new animal motion picture documentary. I fell in love with this movie. Now I think twice before stepping on a bug for no reason. It's a whole different world down there. It's amazing how new technologies now allow us to film things so small. I suggest this film to everyone. You don't have to be interested in bugs and insects. If you're at least a nature lover, you'll definitely enjoy the ride! I did. The images are hypnotic and the music perfectly fits in. Have a good trip!!

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8 out of 9 people found the following comment useful :-
Look at your feet., 14 October 2003

Author: makenai from On the grass

Microcosmos is a magnificent journey, an experience to explore a world full of details and wonder. After watching this "documentary" you would never see another insect in the same way as before.

If you read some comments complaining about the little-to-non-existent narration is because they fail to understand this "documentary" is not about getting the facts straight. It is an experience and as such it is to be lived not to be told.

Sit on the grass, observe, and paint the daughter of the dragonfly.

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7 out of 8 people found the following comment useful :-
Fascinating and beautiful!, 31 October 2003

Author: Mikew3001 (mikew4001@yahoo.de) from Hamburg, Germany

"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!

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5 out of 6 people found the following comment useful :-
Fascinating, even if it made me squirm a bit, 1 February 2004

Author: briden_87 from NYC

I do NOT like insects. Especially when they're shown in extreme close ups that make them look as though they could kick the crap out of me. but I did like this movie. It was incredibly interesting, and some of these insects even stuck me as beautiful. so go figure. Anyway, really good movie, even if you don't appreciate biology OR documentaries, you should still see it.

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7 out of 10 people found the following comment useful :-
Great camera work, no narration, 3 July 2003
Author: laxy56

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).

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