Deep in the forests of central France stands an oak tree, its boughs stretching up towards the sky after over two centuries of growth. It is around this ancient tree that the documentary Heart of an Oak observes the hidden lives and seasonal changes of the animals inhabiting its branches and roots. Directed by Laurent Charbonnier and Michel Seydoux, the film spends 18 months filming the myriad creatures that call this singular location home, from tiny insects to playful squirrels and birds.

Through patience, camerawork, and without the use of narration, the directors give viewers a glimpse into the intricate relationships and daily struggles that unfold both above and below the ground. In the tree’s crevices live families of mice raising their litters, while overhead jays zip between nests and robins court.

Less visible is the bustle of activity in the moist soil as beetles and bugs go about their work.