Acera, or the Witches' Dance poster

Acera, or the Witches' Dance

1972 · 13 min

Documentary

5.9
Criterion

In mud flats along the coast of Brittany we watch acera, small ball-shaped mollusks that are about two inches in diameter. They rest in mud; then, in water, they dance, their skirt-like hood spreading like a dervish's cassock. They spin and spin. The film adds musical accompaniment. We watch them mate and secrete eggs: acera are both male and female, and can form chains with other acera in which they simultaneously mate as a male and as a female. The eggs hatch, and the cycle begins again.

Crew

  • Director Jean Painlevé
  • Director Geneviève Hamon
  • Director of Photography Geneviève Hamon
  • Director of Photography Jean Painlevé

Crew

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🔥 Hot takes

warming up the wall…

Intermission

GO DEEPER

Turn the obscurity dial up. There's a lot further down to go.

Deal me more

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