Le peuple migrateur (2001)

Directors:

Jacques Perrin
Jacques Cluzaud (co-director)

Writers:

Jean Dorst (writer)
Stéphane Durand (writer)

Release Date:

12 December 2001 (Belgium)

Genre:

Documentary

Plot:

Documentary on the migratory patterns of birds, shot over the course of three years on all seven continents.

Plot Keywords:

Bird | Arctic | Flight | Migration | Ocean

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 3 wins & 12 nominations

Cast

Philippe Labro	...	Narrator (English version)
Jacques Perrin	...	Narrator (voice)

Also Known As:

Winged Migration (Canada: English title) (festival title) (USA)
Il popolo migratore (Italy)
Nómadas del viento (Spain)
Nomaden der Lüfte (Germany)
Nomaden der Lüfte - Das Geheimnis der Zugvögel (Germany)
The Travelling Birds (International: English title)
Travelling Birds: An Adventure in Flight (Australia) (DVD title)

Runtime:

98 min | Canada:81 min (Toronto International Film Festival) | USA:89 min | Argentina:92 min

Country:

France | Italy | Germany | Spain | Switzerland

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS-ES | Dolby Digital EX

Certification:

Iceland:L | Finland:K-3 | South Korea:All | Australia:G | Denmark:A | France:U | Germany:o.Al. | Netherlands:AL | Portugal:M/6 | Singapore:G | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:0 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:U | USA:G | Argentina:Atp | Chile:TE

Filming Locations:

Abbaye, Mont Saint-Michel, Manche, France

Company:

Bac Films

Trivia:

When the crabs are seemingly devouring the injured bird, it is actually a dead fish that has washed up on the beach.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Narrator: The story of bird migration is the story of promise - a promise to return.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Lost: Par Avion (#3.12)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Hors Champ

Awe-inspiring!!!!

I really cannot summarize this documentary in one word. I was awe-struck, elated, saddened...this movie has so many emotional experiences in one 90-minute time frame that I am completely overwhelmed by it. The cinematography is so outstanding it is nearly unbelievable. That same cinematography is behind much of the emotional upheaval of this documentary. Some of the vistas and scenery are so breathtaking that you might just find yourself crying from the joy of looking at something so beautiful.

The musical score for this movie is half the experience. I don't think the movie would have been the same at all without it. The movie speaks to your heart, but the music speaks to your soul. The birds themselves are stunning and you feel their complete freedom, as well as the effort it takes to fly these tremendous distances, all based on the instinct of survival. Not all survive, and you will feel the sadness and pain of the sacrifices made along the arduous trip.

I happen to be a bird lover, but I don't think you need to be one to fully appreciate this movie. It is so much more than just about birds, it's the life, struggle and survival of all wild creatures who follow their instincts. If you see this movie, and I think everyone should, you will come away from it with a greater feel and respect for nature and it's struggles, as well as it's magnificent beauty. And I, for one, believe that respect will make each of us a better person.

I give this movie a 10.