Dir. Nicolas Philibert, 1995, France, 59min, DCP, Color
In French with English subtitles

The Zoology Gallery of Paris’ Museum of Natural History was closed to the public for a quarter of a century, leaving hundreds of taxidermied specimens—mammals, fish, reptiles, insects, amphibians, birds, and crustaceans—suspended in time. This playful documentary was shot during the 1991 to 1994 renovation of what’s now known as the Grand Gallery of Evolution, and chronicles the meticulous restoration of its fascinating preserved residents.

Golden Gate Award, 1995 San Francisco International Film Festival

“The renovation of the Museum of Natural History in Paris is the subject for this beguiling documentary by Nicolas Philibert.” –The New York Times