Written by Linda
November 27, 2009
Showing up in their natty tuxedos, penguins were the surprise celebrities of 2005 with the hit documentary March of the Penguins. Sure, the film can be dismissed as an anthropomorphized "love story" in the animal world, but you can't deny that the film is gorgeous.
The U.S. version of this stunning documentary (filmed by a French crew) is narrated by none other than Morgan Freeman. His buttery voice introduces us to the world of the emperor penguin of Antarctica, and their amazing life (and sometimes death) journey through one year.
The "march" of the title both starts and ends the film, as the penguins trek from the coast to their mating ground 70 miles inland where the ice is thicker. Using some sort of biological GPS, penguins from near and far make this trek from various locations, all to show up at the same spot within days or even hours of the others. And we all know that penguins are inherently fun to watch because of their appearance of slouchy lumbering old men in overcoats as they trudge single file across the ice. So to see hundreds of these birds trundling along is both uniquely amazing and frankly pretty funny to see on film.
When they arrive to hang out with thousands of their buddies en masse, mating season begins. Yes, the narration gets kind of silly as Freeman discusses the search for a mate (they are monogamous birds... that is until next year when they swap for another partner). But Freeman curiously shuts up when we get to see two of the birds mating on screen (are we to assume that parents are supposed to jump in with an explanation of what's going on at this point?).
March of the Penguins brought to light (for most of us, at least) one of the more interesting aspects of the emperor society: as soon as the egg is laid, the male penguins tuck the egg under their belly while the female takes off for a couple months in search of food. So the dads are left huddled together through the bitter, dark winter months, walking around on their heels, trying to balance their precious egg on their feet while protecting it from the elements. One of the most stunning images of the film are of an egg freezing, with a crack that grows and spreads before your eyes, instantly filling with ice crystals. Amazing photography!
When the peepers hatch, and mom returns, the film turns into a free-for-all of cuteness, with these puffy baby penguins waddling around like children wearing puffy snowpants. Freakin' adorable! As the penguins eventually march back to the coast, the cycle begins again.
Apparently the original French version of the film actually has human "voices" for the mother, father, and baby penguins... thankfully, someone put a stop to that nonsense for the translation. Truly, the images speak for themselves. Even when Freeman adds some color commentary, like when a mother penguin "mourns" for her baby who died in the storm ("the loss is unbearable"), it, for the most part, isn't distracting. Anyone who is an animal lover, or has had pets will probably agree that it is feasible for an animal, like a penguin, to mourn the loss of a "child". At least I'd like to think so.
March of the Penguins has been rereleased in a special Gift Set, which includes the original film (with great making-of extras, plus a hilarious old Bugs Bunny cartoon "8 Ball Bunny" where Bugs attempts to return a little "pen-goo-win" to the South Pole), and a second disc containing the comparitively low-budget On the Wings of Penguins about the African penguin (also called jackass penguin, for its braying call!). This second doc is more about African penguins in captivity, but it does, however, contain a bafflingly amazing scene of a zoo penguin getting cataract surgery!!! The other extra goodies in this set, which I'm sure some folks will love, include a plush baby penguin doll, plus a nice set of penguin postcards.
