Friday, September 23, 2005

Review

'Genesis' captures creation of universe

By Glenn Whipp / Los Angeles Daily News

'Genesis' GRADE: A- Rated G (for ages 10 and older) In French with English Subtitles Running time: 80 minutes 7 and 9:30 tonight and Saturday, 4 p.m. Sunday Detroit Film Theatre Behind the Detroit Institute of Arts 5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit Call: (313) 833-3237 See it, rate it Movie Finder: Select theater and showtime Movie Talk: Grade the movie, add your own review, see what others think Comment on this story Send this story to a friend Get Home Delivery

With their latest movie, "Genesis," writers/directors Claude Nuridsany and Marie Perennou ('Microcosmos") tackle the birth of the universe in 80 minutes (including credits).

Once again, Nuridsany and Perennou have done a fantastic job of capturing the natural world in amazing and illuminating ways. They've also come up with a simple way to tie the whole ball of string together, deftly showing how humans live the story of creation in fast motion.

The scientific explanations for life on Earth are presented in plain, vivid language by an African griot (or storyteller) who uses such simple devices as puffs of smoke and a cauldron of water to illustrate the circle of life.

The Galapagos sea iguanas stand in for prehistoric monsters; a mudskipper resembles the pioneering walking fish. We see toads coupling, lizards racing, snakes eating. Birth. Life. Death.

Then there's the beautiful: the birth of an ostrich chick seen from inside the egg and amazing shots of human babies inside the womb.