Mould

International "GOLD PANDA" Awards for Documentary of 2009 (10th) Sichuan TV Festival, China: Best Director (Nature & Environment).

It first appeared on Earth 200 million years ago. It kills and saves lives. It is often called "the devil's bread" and "God's spit". It is omnipresent and ineradicable. It accompanies human beings from birth to death. It might very well be the guardian of life on our planet, but may turn into "the plague of the 21st century". We do not even think what ancient secrets and hidden powers might be concealed in this cursed and blessed phenomenon... mould.

This sensational documentary from the creators of the award-winning television films "Watch Out: Food" and "Great Mystery of Water" is actually a state-of-the-art docudrama featuring interviews with leading scientists and religious leaders, cutting-edge computer graphics and historical reconstructions shot on location in different continents. The film explores the both negative and positive effects of moulds on humankind - from toxic fungi, plagues and leprosy to penicillin, Roquefort blue cheese and the most exquisite brands of French wine. Modern-day science does not fully understand how moulds affect us, but one thing becomes perfectly clear: mould is one of nature's indicators, designed to warn about an ecosystem's imbalance.

Masterskaya Production, 2009, HD, 85 min.

Author: MARINA BANDILENKO

Director: DMITRY VASILIEV

Producers: SAIDA MEDVEDEVA, OLEG VOLNOV