European Films

When looking up information about Le marche de l'empereur (March of the Penguins) prior to seeing it, something caught my eye: there were three narrators listed, rather than the customary single person. I immediately imagined this could mean one thing only: they would let the Emperor penguins, the subject of this documentary, speak! I am not exaggerating when I write that I was apprehensive just contemplating the possibility that a respected documentary maker would do something like that. When I noticed that Buena Vista International (part of the Walt Disney Company) co-produced and distributed this feature, I frankly gave up on it being worth seeing. This, I had decided, would have to be a documentary with lots of speaking penguins, something for children only.

 

Now that I have seen La marche de l’empereur I have to admit two things. Firstly: I was right when I thought it contained speaking penguins. Secondly: I was wrong to assume that this would result in a film that would appeal to children only. The words, written by director Luc Jacquet and adapted by him and Michel Fessler are indeed presented as if the penguins themselves are speaking them, though they are written in a way in which they reflect what most penguins in general are going through. Their words are graceful, almost poetic and the French-language narrators do an excellent job in preserving the dignity of the animals on screen by not letting the voice-overs become caricatures. They do not dominate the film, but rather are complementary to the astounding visuals.

 

And what a visual might we are presented with! Terre Adélie, the French administrated part of Antarctica, is the scene where most Emperor Penguins come to in winter. They trek from the shores to the higher lands in order to breed. Depraved from the ocean that provides them with their food and bearing temperatures of -40ºC the couples stay inland for several months to hatch a singular egg. There is really only one question: "Will life or winter win this battle?", as one of the voice-overs adequately puts it. The footage is of an extraordinary quality at least in terms of what is shown of the natural beauty of Antarctica and its inhabitants. Some of the material, shot digitally, is particularly grainy but nevertheless shows us amazing sights both on land and under water. A shot of a particularly hungry sea-lion hunting for penguins will probably be good for many a nightmare to come.

 

Though the documentary is something which should interest children (as well as easily scared adults), parents should know that the filmmakers do not shy away from the death and destruction at the hands of other animals or the unbearable weather conditions in winter. A shot of an egg literally splitting open because its contents has frozen or the emotional shot of a penguin who has lost its child to the cold trying to steal a young from another couple are not for the faint -- nor cold -- of heart.

 

The music, mostly composed by French electric groove wunderkind Émilie Simon, is unusual in a Bjorkish kind of way but more often than not supports the visuals rather than intrudes. Generally, the music, the use of some digital shots as well as the title and end-title sequences lend La marche de l’empereur a contemporary feel that gives this documentary an edge over its competitors. It is, in essence, a nature documentary like many others, but the inventive use of well-written and acted voice-overs and the general sleekness of this work makes one hungry for more (though possibly something hot).

 

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