winged migration

THE FLICK: “Winged Migration” impresses on two levels. First is the innovative and extraordinary photographic accomplishment of capturing images of birds in flight the way they never have before. Second is the behind-the-scenes commitment it took (4 years, 3 directors and 8 ultra-light planes over every continent on the planet) to bring the film to the screen. Inspired by the footage from “Fly Away Home,” lead director Jacques Perrin set out to follow the migratory existence of several species of birds - geese, pelicans, ducks, and a few more colorful varieties. Traveling upwards of 1500 miles on their journey, the scenery is as much a part of the wonder of the film as the birds themselves. The camera soars over mountains, forests, oceans and cities, then skims the ground for a “bird’s eye” view of a life in flight. Yes, it’s a nature film. But there is relatively little commentary and Perrin’s goal seems much more philosophical than educational. Just when things seem to be getting repetitive another seemingly impossible shot draws you back in to a world you never thought you’d get this close to. THE FEATURES: Like a film within a film, the hour-long making of feature provides background on the challenges faced by the crew. It also clears up how they managed to get so close to their subjects (several bird species were hand-raised and trained to fly with the camera planes). The creating the music featurette is a nice supplement, seeing as the music carries the weight of the film. Composer Bruno Coulais describes his technique, which included a “fluttering wings” effect in the strings section. An interview with the director gives Perrin a chance to explain his goal of shooting the birds as one would shoot actors – with elaborate set-ups and long close-ups. The further insights segment features co-directors Cluzaud and Debats describing some of the specifics about the birds featured in the film. The photo gallery with commentary takes this a step further, covering the unique traits of various species. After all this well-organized info, the director’s commentary feels a bit flighty (no pun intended), as it’s mostly overkill and repeated facts from previous extras. But it’s a great track to practice your sexy French accent. FINAL SCORE: Don’t look for a Ken Burns-type PBS documentary. “Winged Migration” is much more subtle than that, and much more beautiful. What facts the feature doesn’t provide is more than made up for in the substantial DVD extras. Definitely worth your time and money!