The documentary genre has seen a surprising resurgence in the past couple
of years with Spellbound, Touching the Void and Fahrenheit 9/11 all becoming
bona fide hits. The latest addition is March of the Penguins, which has been
a massive sleeper hit over the summer in the US. Raking in over US$75 million
and out grossing big-budget flicks such as The Island and Bewitched, it's
been quite a sensation.
Following the mating and breeding habits of the Emperor penguins in the
Antarctic, the film is a journey that is taken so that the species can
survive. They all travel to their traditional breeding ground, an area so
bleak, cold and unrelenting many do not make the trip. They then pair off
into monogamous couples and mate. But after the females lay their eggs, the
penguins take on an intriguing role reversal. While the males take care of
the eggs and protect them from the harsh weather, the females travel to the
sea for food. The males often don't eat for up to 120 days as they wait for
the females to return. There is a fight for survival as the males huddle
together to stay warm and protect their offspring at any cost.
Nature documentaries are often not hugely involving, but there's
something about March of the Penguins that just grabs you from the outset.
It may help that it's narrated by Morgan Freeman, who can give an air of
authenticity and wisdom to just about anything. The film makers are
incredibly skilled in sketching out the penguins in a humane manner.
You'll find yourself caring about their plight in a way that you
could never have expected.
The intimacy of the cinematography is amazing as we get to see
every intimate detail of their bizarre ritual. From the quirkiness of the
initial march to the surprising poignancy of the baby penguins who don't
survive the harsh weather, the film manages to appeal to a wide array of
emotions. Originally made in French and then translated around the world,
it's surely a dead cert for next year's best documentary Oscar.
If you would never go to see a nature documentary on
principle, think again. Morgan Freeman tells us this is a story
primarily about love. Cleverly released in the Christmas season in the UK,
this deserves to repeat its US success and will surely cause a massive
increase in the sales of stuffed penguin toys. Appealing to all the family, March of the Penguins
is perfect holiday fare - and for the easily amused sections of the
audience, there are plenty of gratuitous shots of penguins falling over.
One of the year's most surprising and uplifting movies.
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