“We are no longer satisfied with insights into particles, or fields of force, or geometry, or even space and time. Today we demand of physics some understanding of existence itself”
– John Wheeler
Developed at ESoDoc – European Social Documentary
An initiative of Zelig School for Documentary
supported by Creative Europe MEDIA
Presented at When East Meets West Co-Production Forum
Selected for ‘Last Stop Trieste’ at WEMW
TRAILER
LOGLINE
In Cyprus’s demilitarised zone, Marios takes refuge from the ghosts of war through quantum physics. When he is offered a role at Schrödinger’s old office in Vienna, he seeks to reinvent Time. But as his Nobel dreams collapse, he begins questioning his place in the universe.
SYNOPSIS
In a Cyprus fractured by checkpoints and bullet holes, Marios spends his days with his frail mother, his cat Skyro, and a blackboard, finding refuge from a dangerous world in the abstract realms of quantum theory. Yet his desire to make sense of the world leads him to question existence itself. When called by the Austrian Academy of Sciences to lead a research team in the very office once occupied by Erwin Schrödinger, Marios seizes his chance to tackle the centuries-old challenge in theoretical physics: merging general relativity with quantum mechanics.
In the making of a ground breaking experiment, inside a tunnel in the Alps, Marios discovers that everything emerges from uncertain, random interactions and reality is not what it seems. He finds himself at the centre of a new scientific revolution. But as instruments fail year after year, his confidence crumbles. Amidst the mirage of a Nobel Prize and a fractured mind, Marios must surrender to the wild, paradoxical beauty of the quantum world.
In a time marked by climate breakdown, war, social fragmentation, and existential anxiety, this movie feels incredibly timely. It reminds us that living in uncertainty is not only inevitable but also deeply human.
GALLERY
Director's statement
‘Now You See It’ offers a rare glimpse into the lives and work of the scientists driving the new quantum revolution. Quantum mechanics is the science behind nuclear explosions, smartphones, particle collisions – and soon, quantum computers. And deeper still, as a theory of nature, it sketches a hidden reality beyond what we experience, transforming our notion of what is real.
Science is often perceived as dogmatic and impersonal, regarded as the ultimate authority in a world where religion has long lost its influence. The prevailing belief is that scientific progress follows a defined path toward an ultimate truth, an ultimate picture of the universe. And yet when I met Marios, who is developing new ideas that may one day fundamentally change our lives, I was struck by how hopelessly confused he is.
All theoretical physicists around the world know that for every answer they find, a thousand more questions will rise, and I find beauty in their struggle, beauty in the knowledge that even as the universe remains silent they press forward, alone, together, in the vastness of the unknown. I want to give a glimpse into Marios’ mind and thought processes, and show how science is first and foremost a fragile and human endeavour.
In his words: “Physics is not something out there, it’s simply what physicists do. And one day we will be laughing at our theories. We are just talking monkeys, getting impressed by ourselves.”
PRODUCER
Alevtina Nepomnyashchikh is a social entrepreneur with a background in finance, philanthropy, and social impact.
In 2018, she founded Open Citadel, a UK-based independent media company producing thought-provoking documentaries that explore social issues, advance education, and challenge established perceptions. Her filmmaking is informed by her work in humanitarian and international development, particularly expanding educational opportunities for young people in conflict-affected regions.
Her projects include a short documentary about Syrian refugee children and the award-winning feature film The Lesson, exploring Holocaust education in Germany. Alevtina sees documentary filmmaking as a means of inspiring curiosity, challenging assumptions, and making complex ideas accessible to wider audiences. Her motivation for producing Now You See It reflects a broader interest in the human condition, how we understand reality, and how we organise ourselves as societies.
MISSION
At the heart of quantum physics lies a more profound philosophical inquiry into the nature of reality itself. Concepts that challenge our classical understanding of the universe suggest a world far more interconnected and mysterious than previously imagined. These ideas push theboundaries of science and invite us to rethink our place within the cosmos.
CREDITS
A FILM BY ALESSANDRO LEONARDI
Executive producer Alevtina Nepomnyashchikh
Co-producers Guendalina Folador, Rasa Miskinyte
Editor Ilya Gavrilnikov
Cinematography by Stefanos Knapp, Alessandro Leonardi
Original score by Martynas Bialobžeskis
WITH THE SUPPORT OF
Austrian Academy of Sciences
Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften (ÖAW)
Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information Vienna
University of Vienna
Center for Spacetime and the Quantum
The Quantum Information Structure of Spacetime community
FEATURING
Marios Christodolou
Kyriaki Christodoulou Kozaki
Carlo Rovelli
Francesca Vidotto
Časlav Brukner
Bob Coecke
Markus Aspelmeyer
WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF
Margarita Charakopoulos-Antoniou
Anais Troumpounis
Paris Troumpounis
Iris Krekos
Christos Vasilios Christodoulou
Vasilios Christodoulou
Sara Butler
Hans Hepach
Anton Zeilinger