Film: "Life in the Midst of Loss"

1. Introduction

The year 2020 was marked by global upheavals and intimate sorrows. As the world grappled with a health crisis, I confronted a deeply personal tragedy: the deteriorating health of my dearest friend, my father. Diagnosed with melanoma that later metastasized to his brain, I, a neuroscientist, bore witness to his cognitive and neurological decline. Amidst this turmoil, a beacon of solace emerged in the unlikeliest of places: our 1000m^2 garden in Vale do Mutuca, Nova Lima (MG) - Brazil. This sanctuary, which my father had always cherished but could no longer enjoy due to his ailment, transformed into a realm of discovery for me. It wasn't just a refuge from pain; it became a vibrant testament to life's resilience. Situated at the crossroads of the Atlantic Forest and the Cerrado, the garden unveiled a staggering spectrum of biodiversity, revealing that even in the face of profound loss, life persists, adapts, and thrives. Through the medium of film, using voiceover, photos, videos, and archival audio, I seek to convey this journey of contrasting worlds.

2. Background

Losing a beloved family member, especially a parent, is an experience that can profoundly alter one's perception of life. As a neuroscientist, I had to bear witness to my father's battle with melanoma and its devastating metastasis to the brain. Watching him, my closest friend, endure neurological and cognitive decline was heart-wrenching. But as I lost him daily, bit by bit, the garden became a beacon of hope and rebirth. Over the course of six months, I delved deep into the vibrant ecosystem of my house's garden in the Vale do Mutuca, Nova Lima (MG) - Brazil. This unique region, nestled between the Atlantic Forest and the Cerrado (tropical savanna), revealed a breathtaking spectrum of biodiversity. From the recognizable jacu bird (guan), Brazilian squirrel, and black-tufted marmoset to the vibrant tangaras; and delving even deeper to uncover the microscopic world of tardigrades, rotifers, and ciliates. The arthropods, in particular, showcased an extraordinary diversity, opening up a new universe of wonder and curiosity. Within the confines of this 1000m^2 garden, I identified over 250 species. Remarkably, some of these species had never been catalogued before. Yet, as I was immersing myself in this exploration, I was simultaneously confronted with the somber realities of life and death. On one side, I witnessed the tangible signs of my father's decline: the neuroimaging scans showcasing the spread of the disease, the blood exams indicating deteriorating health, the visible side effects of immunotherapy, muscle atrophy, motor discordination, a fading look in his eyes, cognitive decline, mental confusion, hallucinations, despair, and depression. On the other side, the garden presented its own intricate dance of life and death: bugs mating, eggs hatching, a mantis devouring a leafhopper's brain, parasitic wasps colonizing caterpillars, plants deploying intricate pollination strategies to attract cleptoparasitic flies, and even the family dog, Nina, preying on baby marsupials. After my father's death, we made the decision to cremate his body. In a poignant moment of closure, his 8-year-old grandson, who had been deeply attached to him, spread his ashes in the garden, symbolically completing the cycle of life and connecting the personal journey of loss with the ever-present cycles of nature. In this juxtaposition, I realized that horror, beauty, and the sheer force of life coexist in delicate balance. The horror truly is in the eye of the beholder.

3. Argument

The film seeks to achieve the following:

• Life and Loss: Illuminate the profound parallels between personal loss, cognitive decline, and nature's unyielding cycles of life, death, and rebirth. Advocate for nature as a sanctuary during challenging times, serving both as a means of emotional reappraisal and a tool for broadening perspectives and offering coping mechanisms. Through this juxtaposition, the project aims to resonate deeply with its audience, providing solace and a renewed perspective during moments of grief and challenge.
• Celebrate Biodiversity: Raise awareness of the astounding biodiversity in localized regions like backyards, emphasizing the urgency of its preservation against threats like climate change. By showcasing the rich biodiversity of just a 1000m^2 garden, the project hopes to highlight the multitude of life that exists around us.
• Advocacy and Responsibility: Stress the importance of land protection, especially in the face of large mining corporations and other entities devastating the environment. Showcase a harmonious, integrated relationship with nature—a perspective from which we can learn, appreciate, and strive to preserve.
• Beyond Anthropocentrism: Challenge anthropocentric views and foster appreciation, curiosity, and responsibility for the myriad life forms that co-inhabit our planet. Highlight the intertwined ecosystems, the concept of holobiont, and the blurred boundaries between species, emphasizing the interconnected web of symbiotic relationships that define life on Earth.

4. Media and Methodology

This film will utilize a comprehensive and interconnected narrative:

• Photography and Medical Narratives: Alongside capturing the diverse species in the garden and intimate family portraits, the film will poignantly intertwine medical imagery. This will depict the progression of my father's illness, offering a stark yet deeply personal juxtaposition between vibrant biodiversity and the tangible manifestations of disease. Interspersed within the photographic narrative will be curated selections from my father's medical journey—his records and dialogues with clinicians. This integration serves as a somber reminder of the personal stakes and the universality of the human experience.
• Video Documentaries: These will not only incorporate moments of my father during his health challenges but also delve into the "behind-the-scenes" of my explorative journey. From DIY solutions like microscope setups for observing intricate details of nature to using polarized light techniques, viewers will gain insight into the process behind each discovery.
• Narrative Panels with Scientific Deep Dives: Accompanying the visuals will be narrative panels that provide descriptive accounts, reflections, and scientific context. Each major observation will be paired with explanations derived from scientific papers, ensuring that viewers are both enchanted and educated.
• Collaborative Citizen Science: The film will emphasize the collaborative spirit of this project. It will highlight how species identifications were made possible through the collective efforts of taxonomists, the use of platforms like iNaturalist and Wiki Aves, and the broader contributions from the citizen science community.

5. Conclusion

"Life in the Midst of Loss" transcends a mere film. It's a journey through the valleys of sorrow, the peaks of wonder, and the intricate landscapes of life and death. Through personal narratives of pain and cognitive decline juxtaposed against the unyielding vibrancy of nature, this project underscores the profound interconnectedness of all life. Even in the shadows of loss, life persists, adapts, and flourishes, offering lessons of resilience, hope, and wonder. This project stands as an invitation—a call to delve deeper, to seek solace in nature, and to cherish the ephemerality and beauty of existence.

6. Acknowledgments

Deep gratitude is extended to the vibrant community of young and active Brazilian taxonomists who played an instrumental role in this project. Their expertise, enthusiasm, and significant social media presence were pivotal in identifying and understanding the various species documented. Their contributions have not only enriched this project but also bolstered citizen science platforms like iNaturalist and Wiki Birds. Such platforms and their dedicated contributors are the bedrock of conservation and nature preservation efforts, emphasizing the synergy of individual passion and collective action.