Over the past 2 years we've drunk copius amounts of the world's best natural wine, eaten delicious organic food and had the company of some of the most warm, welcoming, genuine, lovely people. And all of this in the picturesque French countryside. This is the backdrop to our new project Particles of Everything (working title).  Possibly the most enjoyable environment to be making a new film.

Our friend, Aaron Ayscough, the natural wine writer (Not Drinking Poison) had released his book The World Of Natural Wine - a wonderful anthology of the great vignerons in France and Europe. We felt compelled by the stories, the characters and way of life. So in the summer of 2023 we made our first of many trips to France. Initially, with Aaron as guide, we toured the Loire valley , Burgundy and Languedoc, meeting with renowned vignerons including Julie Balagny, Sebastién Dervieux, siblings Caroline and Corine of Clos Fantine, and the fabled Patrick Desplats.

At first we thought the film or series would involve the stories of a number of vignerons. However, in the end we decided to focus on a more personal, singular story of Patrick in Anjou. Patrick has chosen to leave behind the four walls of a conventional life to live in the woods, without power, in a humble hut. He makes his wine in amphora, buried in the ground in the woods. He lives a life that truly reflects his belief in being in balance with and a part of nature. He is passionate, philosophical, visionary, unconventional, sincere, sensitive, instinctive, trusting and funny. And he is open and welcoming to anyone who arrives in his woods. 

We also spent some time and filmed with Houas Boukella who, in the beginning, was working with Patrick as something of an apprentice, and is a beautiful winemaker in his own right. 

With Patrick willing to be part of our project together, we returned to his patch of woods many times -  Summer, Autumn, Winter, Spring, Summer - capturing his life, his work and the changing landscape around him.

Emersing ourselves in this way of life with Patrick was an absoute pleasure. We made friends and it changed the way we see the world, and some of the choices we make in living our lives. We hope the film will do the same for others and compel an audience to further consider 'our place in the family of things'.