A contemplative comedy at the level of crustaceans
“We wanted to talk […] about the impact man can have on the minuscule, and the imprint he leaves on a world he can’t see, but which is very present.” This sums up the idea behind Coquille, a short film made in 2023 that tells the story of Bernard, an egocentric hermit crab always on the lookout for a new shell, and his encounter with Morice, a friendly crab with an unattractive appearance, hidden under a plastic cap.
If, at first glance, viewers don’t immediately empathise with Bernard, they end up becoming attached to this not-so-unbearable character, who becomes the bearer of a modern fable, at once funny, touching and timeless, about friendship, growth and transformation.
Inspired by wildlife documentaries
The filmmakers drew their inspiration from wildlife documentaries: “Initially, the intention was […] to make a contemplative and hyper-realistic film, virtually imitating the documentary genre.” To achieve this, the students involved in the project had to overcome a number of technical challenges, not least the creation of the sand, which required extensive and meticulous FX work.
The use of photoscans was also decisive, enabling an ultra-realistic 3D reproduction perfectly integrated into the world of the film: “The use of photoscans was a great help, especially for the pebbles, branches and shells. For the framing, many of the shots were inspired by macro photography,” explain the film-makers, “with the long focal length and bokeh serving to reinforce the impression of smallness. A combination of choices that really hit the mark!
An immersive world full of contrasts
In the end, it’s a highly credible visual reconstruction that fully immerses viewers in a world they think they know well, encouraging them to take a fresh look and revealing the diversity and fragility of this ecosystem: “Man can represent a real danger […],” say the film-makers. By going further, we asked ourselves how the world of the minuscule could perceive its environment, and what its daily challenges were”. Against a backdrop of ecology and reflection on our place in the ecosystem, the film-makers met a number of challenges, both technical and narrative.