Experiencing Interruptions?

But We Had Music

How, knowing that even the universe is dying, do we bear our lives? The finitude and yet vastness of both our deeds and the cosmos through a fleeting moment of contemplation

This is a poem written by Maria Popova, performed here by Nick Cave and transformed into animation by Daniel Bruson, using charcoal drawings, light caustics and optical distortions with glass. Created for The Universe In Verse, a project by Maria Popova.

  • Daniel Bruson
    Director
    Pariah, Guaracy
  • Maria Popova
    Writer
  • Nick Cave
    Key Cast
    "Reading"
  • Daniel Bruson
    Animation
  • Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
    Music
  • Pêu Ribeiro
    Voice Edit
  • The Marginalian
    Executive Production
  • Solstício Filmes
    Producer
  • Project Type:
    Animation, Experimental, Short
  • Genres:
    Poetry, sci-fi, drama
  • Runtime:
    1 minute 26 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 7, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    2,800 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    Brazil
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1.90:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Universe In Verse
    Austin, Texas
    United States
    April 7, 2024
    World Premiere
    Official Seection
  • Vimeo Staff Pick

    April 25, 2024
    Vimeo Staff Pick
Director Biography - Daniel Bruson

Daniel Bruson is an animation director, screenwriter, animator and graphic artist from Brazil. His work encompasses projects for film, music videos, visual arts, advertising and animation courses.

Exploring the mixtures of handcrafted and digital animation, he has recently created the short films “Pariah” (2023) and “Guaracy” (2023, together with Eliete Della Violla). He was one of the invited animators in “Ninety Five Senses” (2022), directed by Jerusha e Jared Hess and nominated for best animated short at the Oscars® 2024.

He has also done pieces such as the music video for “He Won’t Hold You” (2020) by Jacob Collier, a Grammy 2021 winning song and Special Jury Mention at Anifilm 2021, the short films “But We Had Music” and “My God, It’s Full Of Stars”, part of the Universe In Verse by The Marginalian, the animations for the campaign “Alima - Yes, African” (2020), awarded at the Clio Awards 2021, the animated shorts “Pete’s Story” (2015), Best Portfolio Film at Anima Mundi 2016, and also the music video for “Uterine Death And Life” (2017), by Paula Cavalciuk, Best Latin American Music Video at Anima Latina 2019.

He was the art director for the Brazilian stop motion feature “Bob Cuspe - We Do Not Like People” (2021), directed by Cesar Cabral, shortlisted for the Oscars® 2022 and awarded at the Annecy, Ottawa and Guadalajara festivals in 2021.

Daniel also teaches courses, workshops and talks on animation.

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Director Statement

"But We Had Music" is a poem written by Maria Popova, performed here by Nick Cave and transformed into animation by Daniel Bruson, using charcoal drawings, light caustics and optical distortions with glass. The film was made as part of the seventh annual Universe in Verse — a many-hearted labor of love, celebrating the wonder of reality through science and poetry, that took place on April 7th, 2024, on the eve of a total solar eclipse.