WINGED MIGRATION (2001) / *** aka LE PEUPLE MIGRATEUR
Directed by Jacques Perrin. Screenplay by Stéphane Durand and Perrin. Running time: 89 minutes. Rated G by the MFCB. Reviewed on October 12th, 2003.
By SHANNON PATRICK SULLIVAN
Synopsis: Across the globe's more temperate areas, the birds head north in the summer, travelling hundreds or even thousands of miles. En route they must deal with the dangers posed not only by the climate and other animals, but also humans and the environmental consequences of industrial development. And then they do it all over again in the winter.
Review: Some might ignore "Winged Migration" on the basis of it being just another nature documentary, and to a certain extent they would not be wrong. But what elevates this film above the average Discovery Channel programme is the sheer artistry of the work. "Winged Migration" is not a movie about the nuances of avian life cycles; it does not feed the viewer endless trivia about how birds navigate, hunt, or know where to settle down for the summer. Instead, Perrin's aim is simply to astonish us -- with both the visual majesty of the migrating birds and the incredible rigours they endure twice a year. It's therefore hardly surprising that virtually the only scientific data with which we are supplied are the distances a dozen or more species cross on the trek from their summer to their winter homes. Perrin is to be commended for the inventiveness of many of his camera angles; there are several times during which it's easy to feel that we are travelling with the birds themselves, so impressive are his shots. Perrin also seeks to vary the tone of the film from time to time: we see some of the horrors the birds must endure, but there are some very funny moments too, ensuring that "Winged Migration" does not come across as a one-note biology lecture. If there is one thing to be learned here, it is a new appreciation for these most graceful of creatures.
Copyright © 2003 Shannon Patrick Sullivan. Archived at The Popcorn Gallery, http://www.physics.mun.ca/~sps/movies.html
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