ROM's operatic wonders

Royal Ontario Museum [ROM] has unveiled a new element of its 'Immortal' brand platform, one that explores natural history in a bid to help people understand the past, make sense of the present and shape a shared future. 

Created by Toronto-based agency Broken Heart Love Affair, the three-minute film reimagines the connection between humans and nature, encouraging viewers to reconsider humanity’s place within Earth’s vast timeline, offering a fresh look at the museum’s permanent collection.

Called Opera and directed by Rune Milton through Revolver Films, with visual effects by Copenhagen-based Chemistry Film, the film's central character is a chimpanzee through whose eyes we experience the awe and wonder of the world. Departing from the human-focused lens of the initial 'Immortal' campaign in 2022, this new approach emphasises ROM’s pillars of art, culture and nature, reminding viewers that humanity is an incredibly small part of Earth’s expansive story spanning billions of years. 

The spot is set to music from the Italian opera L'elisir d'amore, chosen for its dramatic quality that also reflects nature’s interconnectedness. "Our goal was to forge an emotional connection between viewers, the ROM, and the expansive realm of natural history—and what could be more powerful than opera to express that?" said Craig McIntosh, Chief Creative Officer at Broken Heart Love Affair.