concept, cinematography and editing by Ramaz Melashvilli

This video teaser offers a glimpse into a larger documentary project of filmmaker Helga Merits, dedicated to the remarkable Mary Treat — a pioneering 19th-century naturalist whose contributions to science and correspondence with Charles Darwin helped shape the course of evolutionary theory.
Though often overlooked by history, Mary Treat was a woman far ahead of her time. Her deep curiosity, fearless exploration of the natural world, and tireless documentation of plants and insects broke through the gender limitations of her era. She was not a footnote to Darwin’s work — she was an essential voice within the scientific dialogue of her time.
Through this documentary, we aim to shed light on her legacy and bring her story back into the public consciousness, where it rightfully belongs. Mary Treat reminds us that the pursuit of knowledge knows no gender, and that true discovery begins when we dare to look closely at the life around us.
This teaser serves not just as a preview of a film — but as an invitation to rediscover a figure whose passion for nature, science, and correspondence continues to inspire generations of thinkers, explorers, and storytellers.