Those lucky people who saw Microcosmos (1996) should queue to see Travelling Birds. Microcosmus concentrated on the insects in a particular field. Travelling Birds follows our winged friends on their migrations.
This is more of visual feast than a documentary, even though it was nominated for Best Doco in the 2002 Academy Awards. It is short on information but beautifully rich in its moving pictures of birds, particularly while they are flying.
My favourites were one type of duck who's backs seemed to be pleated, rippling with the effort of flying, for thousands of kilometres. But there were dozens of fascinating and stunning birds filmed.
The filmmakers, who include some who were involved in Microcosmos, somehow manage to fly along with the birds, reportedly using ultra light aircraft, balloons and I would imagine very clever camera lenses. We see the birds in all of their glory labouring in order to survive. This is hard, fraught work!
Their ability to migrate is vital to their survival and in Travelling Birds we get some feeling as to the sheer effort of flight; the desperate need for fit muscles, well-designed bodies and steadfastness of purpose.
But Travelling Birds above all exults in the beauty and wonder of these wonderful animals of the air. Most will certainly wonder why anyone would want to kill these birds for fun or sport.
There is a minimum of narration and music. The music sometimes intrudes in a film that seems to demand only the sounds of the birds. This is a stunning film that anyone in awe of nature will enjoy.
This is more of visual feast than a documentary, even though it was nominated for Best Doco in the 2002 Academy Awards. It is short on information but beautifully rich in its moving pictures of birds, particularly while they are flying.
My favourites were one type of duck who's backs seemed to be pleated, rippling with the effort of flying, for thousands of kilometres. But there were dozens of fascinating and stunning birds filmed.
The filmmakers, who include some who were involved in Microcosmos, somehow manage to fly along with the birds, reportedly using ultra light aircraft, balloons and I would imagine very clever camera lenses. We see the birds in all of their glory labouring in order to survive. This is hard, fraught work!
Their ability to migrate is vital to their survival and in Travelling Birds we get some feeling as to the sheer effort of flight; the desperate need for fit muscles, well-designed bodies and steadfastness of purpose.
But Travelling Birds above all exults in the beauty and wonder of these wonderful animals of the air. Most will certainly wonder why anyone would want to kill these birds for fun or sport.
There is a minimum of narration and music. The music sometimes intrudes in a film that seems to demand only the sounds of the birds. This is a stunning film that anyone in awe of nature will enjoy.
