Brilliant Darkness: Hotaru in the Night

Fireflies' capacity for luminescence has always fascinated us. Their natural environment – darkness – is, in fact, disturbed by our own artificial lights. What kinds of changes occur in a firefly's life? This question is explored not only by a scientific group, but also by Rei Ohara, a Japanese photographer of natural wonders, who shows us fireflies as a beautiful and unique component of nature. This kind of insect is inseparably connected to human culture – especially Japanese culture, which faces a decline in their numbers. From early on in Japan's history, fireflies have lived in the proximity of rice fields and rivers together with people who made them a part of their spiritual life. What happens to the culture, though, if fireflies vanish? Should we view their decline as a clear message about the condition of nature? The group of scientists decided to investigate their daily routines with the help of special detectors to show us why the insects need darkness, the consequences that artificial light might have on them and how we can solve the problem. (Academia Film Olomouc)