Bestiaire

The documentary inspired by medieval bestiaries contrasts portraits of people and animals to change the view on who is observed and who is the observer. The zookeeper chews on her apple with the same devotion as her bear wards chew on theirs. The taxidermist systematically works on a bird carcass in the same manner as a predator during his lunch. The Canadian director refined his method of motionless filming to perfection and discovered an ideal subject for observation. An impressive take of a giraffe against a striped background alternates with an incredibly open and concentrated depiction of the safari’s employees. (Febiofest)