Testerep

Testerep is the name of a lost island off the coast of Belgium that was once home to merchants and fishermen before being swallowed by the North Sea sometime around the 15th or 16th century. Its disappearance certainly recalls the geographical reality of the Benelux region, much of which lies below sea level, as well as the remarkable engineering ingenuity that has kept these low-lying lands dry and habitable. Here, however, what draws our attention is the scientific endeavor itself. As the camera lingers on the meticulous work of scientists devoted to this sandy region, their methods and procedures, interwoven with sophisticated technological tools, evoke a sense of detachment. Can human beings lose themselves in the role of the researcher? Not in the sense of losing their judgment or analytical abilities, but rather their sensitivity; the part of themselves that inhabits their dreams and their bodies. Researchers, after all, have bodies, yet research often seems to strive to replace them, leaving only the intellect behind. Through a handful of voice-over reflections, the film carefully reminds us of the profoundly human dimension of the great adventure that is science, a dimension that it would be a shame to lose sight of.

Jason Todd
Programmer and filmmaker