Lupins

About This Movie

Lupins (1936) is an interesting piece of nature filmmaking. It captures the beauty of these flowers with a certain simplicity that feels very much of its time. The pacing is deliberate, allowing viewers to really soak in the colors and movements, almost meditative in a way. The collaboration between Mary Field and F. Percy Smith brings a unique visual style, with practical effects that enhance the natural beauty, rather than overshadow it. It’s not just a documentary; it feels like an exploration of a world that often goes unnoticed. The performances, if you can call them that, are really just the flowers doing their thing, but there's a charm to how they’re presented that makes it distinctive.

Lupins is a bit of a rarity; finding it in its original format can be challenging. The prints that circulate among collectors are often worn, adding to their charm, but also making pristine copies highly sought after. Its historical context as a nature documentary from the 30s adds an extra layer of interest for serious collectors, especially those focused on the evolution of documentary filmmaking.