La marche de l'empereur (2005)

Director:

Luc Jacquet

Writers (WGA):

Jordan Roberts (US narration)
Luc Jacquet (earlier screenplay) ...

Release Date:

22 July 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary | Family

Tagline:

In the harshest place on Earth, love finds a way

Plot:

A look at the annual journey of Emperor penguins as they march -- single file -- to their traditional breeding ground.

Plot Keywords:

Penguin | Ice | Egg | Fish | Wildlife

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 11 wins & 12 nominations

Cast

Charles Berling	...	Narrator - Penguin Father (voice: French version)
Romane Bohringer	...	Narrator - Penguin Mother (voice: French version)
Jules Sitruk	...	Narrator - Penguin Baby (voice: French version)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Amitabh Bachchan	...	Narrator (voice)
Gösta Ekman	...	Narrator (voice: Swedish version)
Fiorello	...	Narrator (voice: Italian version)
Morgan Freeman	...	Narrator (voice: English version)
Sofie Gråbøl	...	Narrator (voice: Danish version)
Hikari Ishida	...	Haha-Penguin (voice: Japanese version)
Ryûnosuke Kamiki	...	Ko-Penguin (voice: Japanese version)
Takao Ôsawa	...	Chichi-Penguin (voice: Japanese version)

Also Known As:

March of the Penguins (UK) (USA)
The Emperor's Journey (International: English title)

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

France

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Hong Kong:I | Ireland:G | Taiwan:GP | Czech Republic:U | Germany:o.Al. | Finland:S | Switzerland:6 (canton of Zurich) | Australia:G | Norway:7 | USA:G (No. 41769) | Brazil:Livre | Canada:G (all jurisdictions) | Denmark:A | Sweden:7 | Argentina:Atp | Malaysia:U | Philippines:G (MTRCB) | Iceland:L | South Korea:All | New Zealand:G | Switzerland:0 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | France:U | UK:U | Singapore:G

Filming Locations:

Terre Adélie, Antarctica

Company:

Bonne Pioche

Trivia:

It was noted that, by the time of the 2006 Academy Awards, this Best Documentary winner had out-grossed all 5 Best Picture nominees ($77 million vs. $75 million for Brokeback Mountain (2005)).

Quotes:

[first lines]
Narrator: [narrating voice over] There are few places hard to get to in this world. But there aren't any where it's harder to live.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Gilmore Girls: You've Been Gilmored (#6.14)" (2006)

Remarkable

This is perhaps the most amazing animal documentary ever. The footage was gathered in what truly must be "the harshest place on earth". It is barren, cold beyond cold and then there is the endless night of winter. The underwater footage was my favorite, but every single frame is magnificent. I can't wait for the DVD, so I can see how the filmmakers did this.

The narration is less objective than it is romantic - making it less a true documentary than a story, but that is fine in this case, and Morgan Freeman does a great job. You really should make the effort to see this on the big screen - it is absolutely stunning!