MARCH OF THE PENGUINS (a film review by Mark R. Leeper)
CAPSULE: Prepare to have your mind boggled. It seems almost impossible that any animal could live this way. The mating cycle of the Emperor Penguin of Antarctica involves incredible dedication, courage, and effort. So I am sure did making this documentary. Rating: high +2 (-4 to +4) or 8/10
If I were to tell you the story of the mating cycle of the Emperor Penguin of Antarctica you probably would not believe me. If you did believe me you probably would want to see it for yourself. And now you can. Explorers had observed and described the mating cycle of the Emperor Penguin of Antarctica and it sounded like an incredible fantasy until it was filmed as MARCH OF THE PENGUINS for National Geographic and for Warner Independent Pictures.
Of course, the mating cycle of the Emperor Penguin is public knowledge, and if I were describe it here it might well increase your desire to see the film. But I will restrain myself because to learn of it for the first time while actually seeing it is a jaw-dropping experience.
The method that these penguins follow to reproduce involves incredible dedication, effort, hardship, and danger. The filming of this documentary must have involved much the same. The narration, by Morgan Freeman, says that the penguins do it for love. I suppose that sounds a little corny to me. But whether the force is love or instinct to reproduce or whatever, the resolve in these penguins must be incredible.
This is a powerful, impressive documentary. It is well filmed with beautiful detailed photography. The penguins are immediately likeable, like plump men waddling like Charlie Chaplin. They trek in long line narrow queues reminiscent of old photographs of gold miners climbing mountains in the Klondike. For a week they never stop, hiking to where the ice is thick and they feel it is safe to mate. When they get tired they flop on their bellies like boys on sleds and push themselves along on hands and feet.
I will compromise and reveal one phase of the process. At one point the males who have not eaten for two months. They now have to stand in cold winds of up to 150 miles per hour. The temperature is 71 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. They can barely move because they have tucked between their legs, balanced on their feet, an egg half as wide as they are. If the egg touches the ground it will freeze, killing the chick inside. If they even put their feet flat on the ground it destroy the egg. So they stand barely moving balanced on their heels in these unimaginably and violent conditions, through horrendous whiteout blizzards, without eating, FOR TWO MORE MONTHS. If any animal can be said to have paid its dues for reproducing, it is the Emperor Penguin.
Late in the film you have seen these animals through the best part of a year and have seen the sacrifices they have endured to create the chicks. To see the chicks dive into the water and swim away is a tremendous note of triumph and relief made all the more poignant because the parents in all probability will never again see the chicks they fought so hard to give life to.
The photography is beautiful and captures the majesty of the Antarctic landscape. But once the story of the penguins starts, it is not where the real interest is. This is a story of a conflict and the viewer really is in there hoping that enough baby penguins survive so that not many of these brave birds are disappointed. They have paid the price for success.
Just seeing MARCH OF THE PENGUINS is a remarkable experience. I rate the film a high +2 on the -4 to +4 scale or 8/10. I hope to be reminded at Academy Award time what a good film it is and just how engrossing a nature documentary can be.
Mark R. Leeper mleeper@optonline.net Copyright 2005 Mark R. Leeper
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