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Winged Migration 2002 |
Review by Jonathan Cornwell |
Directed by Jacques Perrin
G, 98 min. (nothing offensive) |
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Narrator: Jacques Perrin
Producers: Jacques Perrin, Christophe Barratier
Screenplay: Stephane Durand, Jacques Perrin
Cinematography: Olli Barbé, Michel Benjamin, Sylvie Carcedo-Dreujou, Laurent Charbonnier, Luc Drion, Laurent Fleutot, Philippe Garguil, Dominique Gentil, Bernard Lutic, Thierry Machado, Stéphane Martin, Fabrice Moindrot, Ernst Sasse, Michel Terrasse, Thierry Thomas
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Released: 4.18.03 (Limited) |
Rating:
 (out of ) |
Winged Migration is an awe-inspiring glance into the hard lives of large birds, mostly geese, that make their long,
arduous flight south each winter and then back north again in the spring. There are scenes, which the film claims are untouched by
special effects, of grandeur here that make the multitude of CGI laden Hollywood films seem embarrassingly
shallow and manufactured. Director Jacques Perrin labored for over four years across the globe to bring the film to fruition.
His horde of cinematographers capture the vivid and beautiful travails of birds that make their long journeys out of necessity -
in the neverending search for food. Watching the film unfold, one can't help but wonder how Perrin captured the breathtaking
images on display here. Researching the film I learn that the filmmakers actually raised their own birds via imprinting in
order to accomplish closeups of the birds in flight. Furthermore, years of footage have resulted in a tightly edited production that
could have actually benefited from a longer running length. But what does make the final cut is engaging enough to dispense
with any disparaging aspects of the end product.
The film is not so much a documentary ala The Discovery Channel, but an adventure alongside these birds' instinctive
flight to warmer or cooler temperatures with the navigational aid of landmarks, the sun and stars, and the Earth's gravitational
field. The dangers inherent in such a journey are well-documented here, as predators (mainly hunters) and the grueling
endurance necessary for the trip across vast continents and seashores claims the weaker birds. The majestic shots are
tempered by a few horrific scenes; one of exhausted birds shot out of the sky by indifferent hunters and another which
shows an injured bird limp away unsuccessfully from an onslaught of hungry crabs. This balanced attitude in Perrin's
direction keeps the film from too much sentimentality.
Because of the breadth of the production, each featured species is allotted minimal screen time in order to cram in as much
footage as possible. This is a double-edged sword since following one particular group of birds could be more involving, yet
the presentation of many types of birds imbues the film with a broader, more global perspective. Perrin, whose previous
involvement in Microcosmos (about the world of insects) helped him craft this film, narrates Winged Migration sporadically,
relying on the eye-opening landscape and birds' travels to carry the day. Although, at times, more narration of the proceedings
would have been helpful, the film benefits from a quiet, natural quality that emphasizes the environment itself rather than
man's intrusion upon it. It's one fantastic journey into the rarely seen.
© 2003 Jonathan Cornwell
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 | Masterpiece - Film perfection |
 | Excellent - A Must See |
| Good - Highly Recommended |
| Fair - Worth seeing |
| Average - Viewable, but not recommended |
| Below average - View at own risk |
| Poor - Avoid at all costs |
| Very poor - An embarassment to the film industry |
| Zero | Awful - One of the worst films ever made |
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