Seven ages of a man

An Epic Journey Between Nature and the Philosophy of Life

For half a century, explorer Jen-Shiu Hsu has journeyed through wild forests and rainforests, documenting the splendor and fragility of the natural world through his camera and writing. More than just an observer, he lives in harmony with the wilderness.

But in 2019, after his first major surgery, he was confronted by the reality of time and mortality. This led him to embark on what he calls his “final adventure”—deep into the Amazon, in pursuit of the legendary Blue Morpho butterfly he had dreamed of for years.

SEVEN AGES OF A MAN is not a traditional biographical documentary. Instead, it is a philosophical reflection: Can we, by drawing closer to nature, also move closer to true happiness and the essence of life? The film unfolds in seven chapters, tracing the journey from “Instinct” to “Return to Origins,” and drawing parallels between the laws of nature and the human experience.

Blending poetic black-and-white imagery with the vivid colors of the wild and the authentic sounds of the environment, the film offers a tranquil yet profound viewing experience. Over years of filming, the director and crew found themselves on their own journey of self-exploration, joining Hsu in contemplating the meaning and limits of existence.

This is both an intimate portrait of nature’s beauty and a deep dialogue about life, death, and what it means to exist. Through this dreamlike journey, the film invites us to reconsider the distance between humanity and nature—or to ask whether we have ever truly been apart.

FB | Seven ages of a man

【導演 | 沈可尚】
七日印象電影有限公司 負責人。

重要作品包含紀錄片《噤聲三角》《賽鴿風雲》《野球孩子》《小城》《遙遠星球的孩子》《築巢人》、《日日喃喃》、《幸福定格》、《客人主人》；劇情短片《與山》《兩個茱麗葉》《通電》《到站停車》《美好的旅程》《世紀末的華麗》。其作品曾入圍多項國際知名影展競賽，包含坎城影展、瑞士真實影展、山形影展等；並屢獲多項重要獎項肯定，包含台灣國際紀錄片影展台灣首獎、台北電影獎首獎、亞太影展最佳紀錄片、紐約電視金獎、金鐘獎、金馬獎等。

【主述者】徐仁修
生態攝影師、作家、環保運動先驅
曾深入亞馬遜、東南亞、台灣高山進行拍攝
創辦荒野保護協會
推動自然保育作品融合人文關懷與環境議題
荒野基金會創辦人