The Mount of Ants (2017)

The Mount of Ants (2017) poster

For centuries, every year on September 8 myriad swarms of winged ants have been arriving on the Mount of Ants. Similar to clouds obfuscating the sky, these small insects mate in a wonderful flight followed by the death of all the males, which fall exhausted onto the yard of the church rising on the mountain top, once called "Santa Maria Formicarum". The mating flight blazes out like an ecstatic apparition before the eyes of the curious, of tourists and the faithful, who arrive here every year to admire and to celebrate this feast dedicated to the "Virgin of the Mount of Ants". This singular event is the starting point for reflection within the film, which asks questions about the small insects’ nature and that of human beings. Great writers like Nobel Prize-winner Maurice Maeterlinck and entomologist Carlo Emery have studied them a lot: their words echo out again, nowadays, in the voices of witnesses in the film.

Director: Riccardo Palladino
Runtime: 63 min
Release Date:

Cast

Screenplay

Music: Benedetta Gelati
Editing: Carlotta Cristiani, Riccardo Palladino
Country: Italy
Language: Français, Deutsch, Italiano
Original Language: it
More Films by Director: Riccardo Palladino

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Mount of Ants about?
For centuries, every year on September 8 myriad swarms of winged ants have been arriving on the Mount of Ants. Similar to clouds obfuscating the sky, these small insects mate in a wonderful flight followed by the death of all the males, which fall exhausted onto the yard of the church rising on the mountain top, once called "Santa Maria Formicarum". The mating flight blazes out like an ecstatic apparition before the eyes of the curious, of tourists and the faithful, who arrive here every year to admire and to celebrate this feast dedicated to the "Virgin of the Mount of Ants". This singular event is the starting point for reflection within the film, which asks questions about the small insects’ nature and that of human beings. Great writers like Nobel Prize-winner Maurice Maeterlinck and entomologist Carlo Emery have studied them a lot: their words echo out again, nowadays, in the voices of witnesses in the film.
Who directed The Mount of Ants?
The Mount of Ants was directed by Riccardo Palladino.
Who stars in The Mount of Ants?
The Mount of Ants stars Franca Maurizzi, Violette Maillard, Silvana Strocchi.
How long is The Mount of Ants?
The Mount of Ants has a runtime of 1h 3m (63 minutes).
Where was The Mount of Ants produced?
The Mount of Ants was produced in Italy.