STELLAR IRIS
2025 · 4m · France
Directed by Thomas Blanchard
Genres: experimental
Tones: contemplative, surreal
Inks, chemical reactions, and textures filmed in extreme macro transform into stellar explosions, as if the entire universe were born within a single drop. Each fragment evokes a cosmic collision, expansion, and rebirth through purely practical effects.
Picked by Margot
The scouts
Practical macro chemistry posing as cosmic explosions is a nice visual trick, but at 3:39 with no narrative this is screensaver-grade experimentation. Fine to put on, hard to call a film.
Macro-photographed chemistry presented as cosmic phenomena with zero digital effects is Stan Brakhage's territory by way of Jordan Belson — under four minutes is exactly the length such a piece should be. Pure form, honestly executed.
Three minutes thirty-nine of macro-filmed ink and pigment chemical reactions standing in for cosmic phenomena with zero digital effects — that's pure practical-effects experimental cinema, and 101K views says the imagery delivers. Sound design by Sanchinelli and Battista is doing real work to sell the scale.