Winged Migration
Jacques Perrin, Jacques Cluzaud (co-director), Michel Debats (co-director), 2001, France, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, Colour, 89 mins, Certificate: U
Leave your expectations at the door.
You can’t possibly imagine how this Oscar nominated documentary will engage your senses and sweep you away along for the ride, soaring.
An impressive, unprecedented cinematic achievement, especially in the art, science and technology of Cinematography, it was filmed by three directors and five crews over the course of four years on all seven continents, featuring minimum narration and a few – either purposefully or just lucky – staged scenes to provide that extra, magical bit of drama (and comedy).
As such it is less of a facts providing piece and more of a shared experience – like a dance, up in the air, between you and the traveling birds in the evocative rhythms of Bruno Coulais remarkable, original music.
In other words, it is less of a documentary and more of an unlikely musical, offering an extraordinary, stunning and utterly new point of view of the world.
Serial social entrepreneur with a passion for the environment and founder of BirdRun, Colin Crooks, MBE, will give a special introduction to the film.
And if you book in advance you will have the chance to win one of two copies of Rebecca Heisman’s fascinating new book “Flight Paths” about the scientists solving the mystery of birds’ migrating patterns.
Reviews:
“The movie, which opens a window into the migratory travels of all sorts of birds, is more visual than educational, and that’s what’s so revelatory about it… There are no nuggets [of information] in “Winged Migration,” but there’s lyricism, fierceness, wit, a bit of tragedy. This is awestruck filmmaking at its best.” Stefanie Zacharek, Salon
“Most movies slip out of our consciousness like water off a duck’s back, but the Oscar-nominated documentary “Winged Migration” stays in the mind, changing the way we look at the world. In a way, it’s an experience akin to travel, something that’s fine in the moment, but only afterward reveals itself as a jewel — a consciousness-broadening experience that thereafter feels indispensable.” Mick LaSalle, SFGate
“”Winged Migration” is a quite astounding feat of cinema. Covering hundreds of thousands of miles and focusing on hundreds of different species, it celebrates the poetic beauty of flight… From the polar ice caps, to the desert, to the countryside of Europe, this is a hypnotic journey that’s full of surprises.” Jamie Russell, BBC.com
“How much you enjoy this Oscar-nominated documentary seems inversely proportional to how much you know about ornithology. As a total novice, I was suitably stunned by the inexplicably close camerawork which allows us to fly with an assortment of birds as they make their amazing way across the globe…” Mark Kermode, The Guardian