On looking for faces in the clouds

"On looking for faces in the clouds" is a study into the phenomenon of pareidolia: man’s tendency to perceive random (visual) patterns as significant.

The study aims to measure the influence exerted by the proximity of places famous for their miracles and phenomena - the 'benchmark' sites Lourdes and Loch Ness - on the degree of sensibility to pareidolic observations. In simpler words: are people who live near Lourdes or Loch Ness more inclined to ‘see things’ than those who live further away? Even though the director thinks there is no such association, he begins his research with an open mind.

Through three sets of scenes we learn more about the pareidolia mechanism and the population of Southern France and Scotland. Using science as both tool and subject, ‘On looking for faces in the clouds’ seeks to answer the question: what do we see?

 

Cast and Crew
director	Sander Blom
camera	Vladas Naudzius
line producer	Hans Mulder
production coordination	Francisco Javier Gonzalez Torres Marie-Cécile Destandau
editing	Stella van Voorst van Beest
sound mix	Ranko Pauković
producer	Denis Vaslin
length	40'
genre	experimental documentary
year	2009

Funding

Netherlands Film Fund Thuiskopie Fund Rotterdam Media Fund

festivals

Golden Apricot Yere van International Film Festival 2009 International Film Festival Rotterdam 2009 Netherlands Film Festival 2009