Get curated editors’ picks, peeks behind the scenes, film recommendations and more.
Artists in the miniatures world tend to focus their passion for detailing on period pieces fit for museum displays, drawing rooms or libraries. However, the British miniaturists Kath Holden and her mother Margaret Shaw of Delph Miniatures in Bradford, Yorkshire, have carved out their own small space by shrinking everyday items such as ironing boards and mobility scooters. While the miniature community’s snootier or more conventional members might look down upon such contemporary creations, the duo succeed in elevating the familiar through their exceptional craft – at the same time as managing a few snide comments about their backward-looking peers. In her charming short Life in Miniature, the UK director Ellen Evans inspects Holden’s meticulous work and personal philosophy, proving that outsized inspiration can be found in small and surprising places. The film premiered at the 2018 Sheffield Doc/Fest before screening at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival.
Director: Ellen Evans
video
Rituals and celebrations
A whale hunt is an act of prayer for an Inuit community north of the Arctic Circle
8 minutes
video
Music
The peculiar beauty of a song caught between composition and improvisation
3 minutes
video
Rituals and celebrations
A beginner’s guide to a joyful Persian tradition of spring renewal and rebirth
3 minutes
video
Politics and government
How it looked to Afghan women to see the Taliban return to power
33 minutes
video
Love and friendship
Love looks a bit different for a chain-smoking couple in a small apartment
11 minutes
video
Biography and memoir
Passed over as the first Black astronaut, Ed Dwight carved out an impressive second act
13 minutes
video
The ancient world
The six priestesses who kept the flame of ancient Rome alight at risk of death
5 minutes
video
Engineering
A close-up look at electronic paper reveals its exquisite patterns – and limitations
9 minutes
video
Architecture
West Africa was once an architectural laboratory. Is it time for a revival?
12 minutes