Last Things, by Deborah Stratman

“Last Things” opens with a post-apocalyptic vision of the future of Earth: we are destined to die. Drawing on stories by J.-H. Rosny (the shared pseudonym of two Belgian writer brothers who were pioneers of modern science fiction), Deborah Stratman imagines a world where all life seems to have disappeared. Then, suddenly, we realise that new forms of life are emerging from the mineral landscapes. Little by little, the film reveals itself as a surprising meditation on the evolution of life on our planet, through a collage combining archival footage, animation, microphotography, scientific imagery and sequences shot specifically for the film. Reflections by geologist Marcia Bjornerud punctuate the film and invite us to rethink survival, extinction and the Earth’s ability to remember beyond the limits of human history. “Last Things” blurs the boundaries between documentary and fiction and takes us on a science-fiction film essay!