The one-celled long and slender diatom, up close: discovered in 1703 with the invention of the microscope. We observe them magnified 10,000 times: water expelled through the skeleton, mucilage constantly emitted, allowing it to glide. Their energy comes from sunlight. They divide and disperse. The narrator, conversing with a young woman, says their remains cover one-third of the earth's surface. They have uses in petroleum, explosives, and polish. Some live in isolation, some in colonies, like elaborate fans. They can move in clusters. Many small animals eat them. We watch them slide on each other in long strings.
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Jean Painlevé Director · Geneviève Hamon Director Jean-Philippe Berger Editor
First release January 1, 1968 · Produced in France · Original title Diatomées
Production
France
Produced in
Languages
Original title
Diatomées
Original language
French
Spoken on screen
French
Release dates
France · January 1, 1968
Theatrical
No release date listed for United States.
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