Esprit de bière

An essay about, and an investigation of, beer - the 'archaeological fluid' - the way a policeman would investigate a banal fact. Beer is first analysed as a raw material (real, chemical, physical), then the cycle of the drink is meticulously followed. A 'documentary' by Pazienza is never just a documentary. There is a protagonist, there are props, scenes, scientific treatises, archive material, a division into chapters and a contemplative voice-over. But an important part of the film was also staged by the maker himself. With love and expertise, and beautifully filmed. Halfway through the film, the protagonist suddenly turns out to be the father of the maker and he also becomes the subject of the film, that then takes a philosophical and contemplative turn.