Posted by msblucow on March 31, 2001 at 13:40:59:
The American Cinematheque is screening the work of Jean Painleve - a pioneer in underwater photography and filmaking - at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood on May 9th. The American Cinematheque's website describes him as
".....the director of about 200 short, sharp and luxuriant films, many focusing on aquatic fauna. A loner, he spent his life in a singularly obstinate pursuit of recording the uncannily familiar behavior of infinitely small creatures, set to scores by Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Pierre Henry, Darius Milhaud… Painlevé approaches his subjects with wit and an almost jubilant curiosity. Theseshort, wondrous documentaries are among the great hidden treasures of French cinema." Subject matter includes everything from a seahorse giving birth to the mating dances the octopus. It's amazing stuff.
For more information, check out http://www.egyptiantheatre.com/archive1999/2001/jeanpainleve.htm