The Oak (Heart of an Oak)

This spectacular French nature documentary without dialogue revolves entirely around life in and around a 210-year-old, 17-meter-high oak tree. The tree is the beating heart of a vibrant miniature world — a poetic ode to nature, which speaks entirely for itself here. The camera follows an extraordinary "cast" of forest inhabitants: squirrels agilely jumping through the branches, Eurasian jays and woodpeckers nesting there, acorn weevils and ants on the trunk, wood mice seeking shelter among the roots. From roots to crown, the oak provides food, protection, and a home day in and day out, while together they brave the changing seasons. Leo De Weerdt s.j. introduces the film. After the screening, we will have a discussion with Pieter Pollet, tree expert at the Groendienst van Stad Leuven. What does wonder about nature do to us in times of heated discussions about global warming? We will chat afterwards with a drink in the STUK café.