For years, Canadian filmmaker Matthew Wolkow has been determined to capture the rare emergence of Brood X cicadas—a phenomenon that only occurs once every 17 years in the eastern United States. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic forces Wolkow to hand over his project to friend Jean-Jacques Martinod, the film’s journey transforms into a deeper exploration of a creative collaboration under duress. Featuring intimate recordings of the cicadas’ song, the film delves into themes of friendship, the creative process, and the passage of time. Expanding the boundaries of a typical nature documentary, Eastern Anthems offers a poetic portrait of America on the brink of change.

Presented by DOXA Documentary Film Festival in partnership with XINEMA.