Directed by: Luc Jacquet

Written by: Luc Jacquet, Jordan Roberts (U.S. version)

Shot by: Lauren Chalet, Jerome Maison

Music by: Emilie Simon, Alex Wurman (U.S. version)

Edited by: Sabine Emiliani

Narrated by: Morgan Freeman (U.S. version), Amitabh Bachchan (India release)

A beautiful little film dedicated to the mysteriously marvellous ways of nature and the spirit of survival that binds all of God’s creations, March Of The Penguins is living proof that there still exist among us passionate film-makers who are willing to face the brutal ravages of nature to etch out quaint little masterpieces for us armchair travellers.

Synopsis: This Oscar-winning, National Geographic funded documentary chronicles the mystifying mating and child-rearing cycle of the Emperor Penguin, the lonely above-sea inhabitant of the icy continent of Antarctica.

My Take: Such a dry, scientific synopsis hardly encompasses the majestic beauty of this gem of a film. Shot in the harsh and unwelcoming climes of Antarctica over many years, the film follows the Emperor Penguins from the beginning of the mating ritual, when they emerge from the icy seas to brave the elements and create life, to the final culmination of this beautiful dance of life, with the baby chicks entering the sea for the first time.

The film is a visual treat, offering the viewer a breathtaking tour of the savagely beautiful Antarctican landscape. The penguins are endearing enough on their own, with their peculiar human-like traits, never-say-die attitude and quintessential soft-toy charm, but are shot with such an adoring eye by the film makers that you can’t help but cheer for them as they battle against the elements to protect their way of life.

The film takes you into a world you probably never could have imagined, and one which, after seeing the film, you don’t feel like leaving. Everything falls into place so well, that before you know it, 85 minutes are up, the end credits are rolling, and you’re mentally wrought between feeling happy that the Penguin chicks have survived and feeling sad that the movie is over.

There are no real fallacies in the film, so I won’t even try to go down that road. The film is a documentary though, and one needs to ‘want’ to watch it. It is slow, informative and indulgent. If you’re an adrenaline junkie, you’re barking up the wrong alley here. This is a film to be seen with the family over some hot chocolate to get that warm fuzzy feeling all over.

Recommended for Nat-Geo nuts, anyone who appreciates passionate and beautiful film-making and anyone who once slept with a fuzzy toy penguin when they were kids.

Note: The film will be releasing in India soon (Original Story on IndiaFM) under the name ‘Penguins - A Love Story’, with narration written by Anurag Kashyap and voiced by Amitabh Bachchan, so you might want to catch it when you can. It truly is an experience worthy of the big screen.

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