Film

Last Things by Deborah Stratman traces its origins to J.-H. Rosny's novellas, exploring natural, prehistoric, and speculative themes. Inspired by Rosny's pluralist vision of evolution, the film intertwines diverse influences—Roger Caillois' writings on stones, Robert Hazen's theory on Mineral Evolution, Clarice Lispector's "Hour of the Star," Lynn Margulis' Symbiosis theory, Donna Haraway's multi-species scenarios, Hazel Barton's cave microbe research, and Marcia Bjornerud's time literacy. The narrative, blending science fiction and science fact, features passages from Rosny and interviews with Bjornerud, challenging the centrality of humankind in evolutionary processes. Stones serve as the film's anchor, connecting with alien durations and highlighting the transient nature of archives, where only particles endure.

Columbus, directed by Kogonada, revolves around Jin, a Korean-born man who becomes stranded in Columbus, Indiana, due to his architect father's coma. In this small Midwestern town, he encounters Casey, a young woman with her own struggles. Casey wishes to stay in Columbus to support her recovering addict mother, deferring her own aspirations. As Jin and Casey form a unique connection, the film explores themes of identity, responsibility, and the choices we make in the face of familial and personal challenges. The architectural backdrop of Columbus serves as a metaphor, reflecting the characters' journey of self-discovery and the intersections of their lives.