In the Stillness of Sounds

Nature can be a mesmerising sight and, with its broad palette of fragrances and odours, it can catch our olfactory sense unawares. Marc Namblard, whose profession combines his talents as a biologist and sound engineer, well knows that nature also has overwhelming sedative effects, particularly in terms of its acoustic dimension. This unconventional collector sets out for the hidden corners of France’s Vosges region, where he sets up his microphones to record animal noises and ambient sounds, and gradually initiates his inquisitive daughter into the mysteries of his meditative work. A discourse on the tranquillity of the forest that permeates the very heart of man, this documentary cultivates our ability to observe, and, if we half-close our eyes, the viewing experience will be all the greater. (Karlovy Vary International Film Festival)