A short film in which a playtpus and a naturalist discuss colonial collection practices.
Ceridwen was inspired to write the script for 'Captives' after we were shown glass plate photographs and a bizarre film from the Harry Burrell collection. The film shows bare-chested naturalist Burrell digging into creek beds in search of platypus burrows. His intention is to better understand these remarkable semi-aquatic, egg-laying mammals by studying live creatures, rather than dissected specimens. Throughout his life Burrell was a fierce advocate for platypus conservation, while hacking into burrows and extracting puggles (baby platypus) from nests. History renders him a complicated character.