From the film-maker:

It was the five demons scurrying about at the bottom of Botticelli's painting that caught my attention. I wanted to know more... With help from James Heard, the National Gallery's adult learning manager, I saw there was an apocalyptic message in the painting. Looking into the history of apocalyptic prophets I was shocked at how often throughout history they had gathered followers and convinced them of the impending judgement day. I thought it showed how fallible we are and how conceited we can be. That people can convince themselves and others that the end of the world is imminent and, moreover, that they are the only people who recognise it. My central character is slightly deranged and is seen preaching to an empty set, his only audience a disinterested rabbit. As the piece rushes towards its conclusion, I wanted to create a sense of the self-fulfilling nature of apocalyptic prophecies.

Edwin Wolf Metternich

A piece inspired by Sandro Botticelli 'Mystic Nativity' 1500