The Fool of Posillipo and Other Stories (2025)

In 1882 Naples, the scientist Étienne-Jules Marey appears to be conducting a strange experiment on the beach. He uses a peculiar gun, not to hunt, but to photograph birds in flight, puzzling the onlookers. This is no ordinary activity; Marey is pioneering early motion picture technology with his chronophotographic gun, which captures images at twelve frames per second. The film explores the intersection of art, science, and empire through Marey's invention. Initially dismissed by locals, his chronophotographic gun revolutionized how we understand movement and time, influencing fields like sports, cartography, anthropology, and even warfare. The film presents this device as a key example of the complex connections between exploration, power, and the creation of knowledge in the late 19th century.