Slime molds. You’ve probably never heard of them, but you’ve undoubtedly encountered them. Once categorized as a type of fungi, they colonize a variety of environments, notably those where decaying matter is available to them for nutrients. With over 500 species, they appear in a variety of colors, textures, and shapes, but as their name suggests, they’re often noted by their production of a gelatinous ‘slime’. But there’s far more to them than this.
In the past, their study has been limited to a few fringe groups of science, but in the last decade of so, interest in their peculiar traits has grown, even beyond the sciences. Their behavior offers insights into biological systems including emergence theory, living computers, or even more offbeat fare such as inspiring artistic communities. This documentary by Tim Grabham and Jasper Sharp delves into the world of the slime molds and the people who inhabit it.
You may recoil at the thought of fungi or ‘slime’, but there is something truly beautiful about these organisms, more than fungi, a higher order organism (technically a protist). From their tiny individual forms, to the larger masses, there are many qualities about them that draw interest. The larger, collective state is the focus here, an amalgamation of the organisms, forming myriad colors and shapes, stunningly intricate as they weave their way across a surface. Yes, they can move, deftly shown here using time-lapse macro-cinematography as they creep along at around an inch every 20 hours. Trippy visuals are aided by a retro synth score by musician and producer Jim O’Rourke.
The science of these molds forms the backbone of the documentary. You garner insights into how they proliferate, feed on their surroundings and other organisms, as well as other interesting aspects. Their movement in particular hints at more elaborate and not fully understood mechanisms or sensing and communication despite being a very simplistic creature.
Within biology, there are model organisms and model systems. These are species or organisms where their simplicity allows an ease of manipulation and cultivation. An example is expressing enzymes in bacteria such as E. coli that come from humans to produce insulin to help in diabetes treatment. Lessons learned can often be extrapolated or used to better understand higher order organisms; slime molds are one such example, not just in movement but also in Emergence theory, that is how a community of organisms comes together to make something lager with different traits and abilities. Similar in a way to biofilms, masses of bacteria cause huge problems in the medical field, engineering systems, or naval shipping.
It’s easy to see why slime molds have cultured (pardon the pun) a fan base outside academic research, and The Creeping Garden introduces us to a number of them. We meet forest roamer Mark Pragnell, who shows off some of the variety of the species. Artist Heather Barnett sees the molds as a form of inspiration, unsurprising given that biology has given the inspiration for developments from aviation to architecture; what better way to refine a design than via evolution. Computer scientist Ella Gale and composer Eduardo Reck Miranda take rather unique ways of interpreting some of the signals that come from the molds, adding further variety to an eclectic group of people whose interest in these organisms is infectious.
The film can be a little slow at times, hindered by its lack of a real narrative. But part of the film’s charm is how it flits from person to person, each seeing something to draw from studying slime molds, and branching out from it with new ideas. That’s the best way to describe The Creeping Garden, as a quirky voyage of discovery alongside those who pursue their own distinct interests in these fascinating organisms.
The Package/Special Features:
- High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentations
- Original 2.0 audio (uncompressed on the Blu-ray)
- Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
- Audio commentary by directors Tim Grabham and Jasper Sharp
- Biocomputer Music, a short film by Grabham on the first biocomputer music system, allowing a two-way musical dialogue between man and slime mould
- Return to the Fungarium, a featurette revealing further treasures of the fungarium at Kew Gardens
- Feeding Habits of Physarum, a featurette on the feeding preferences and dislikes of slime molds
- Three cinema iloobia short films: Milk (2009), Rotten (2012) and Paramusical Ensemble (2015)
- Angela Mele’s animated slime moulds
- Gallery
- US theatrical trailer
- Reversible sleeve featuring two pieces of original artwork
Select/Limited Releases Also include:
- The Creeping Garden Soundtrack: Bonus CD containing the rearranged soundtrack to The Creeping Garden by legendary producer and musician Jim O’Rourke
- The Creeping Garden Illustrated collector’s booklet containing writing on the film by Jasper Sharp — First Pressing only.
As you can see, this is one of the more stuffed home video releases you can imagine. Everything included enhances various aspects of the film, from the science, to the artistry, the music, and even the technical approach to capturing these organisms. The short films are particularly well done. Also standing out is the enthusiasm and detail in the director’s audio commentary. A stellar package to be sure.
The Bottom Line
Arrow have paired a delightful documentary with a huge array of extras to make for an impressive release. The Creeping Garden takes what has so far been a niche interest for some, even scientists, and shares it with the world. It’s a delightful meander through the field than something overly heady and should be applauded for capturing that giddy joy of discovery.
The Creeping Garden is released by Arrow Academy on March 14th