Hey, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab.
One of our regular chatters, TK421, sent in this review of the latest film from the makers of the fascinating MICROCOSMOS. I haven’t heard a single word about this film before now, so I thought I’d share...
THE TRAVELLING BIRDS
I realise, to some, this review might seem a bit overdue. The Travelling Birds (originally titled ‘Le Peuple Migrateur’) was released in France and Belgium as early as December 2001. I saw this April 18, opening day in The Netherlands, after seeing the gorgeous trailer before Mulholland Drive. Ever since I’ve been wanting to write about it, but I couldn’t find the time. Since I still haven’t seen any coverage on this extraordinary film, I thought I’d still give my two cents, cause if ever there was a film worth discovering (and I don’t think this has been released yet in the U.S., nor have any idea if it will be), The Travelling Birds is it. And however crazy it might seem in a review of a film about birds, I’ve even put in spoiler warnings near the end of this review. Spoiling a film is spoiling a film, regardless what it is about.
The Travelling Birds (I’ll refer to is as TTB from here on) is Jaques Perrin’s follow-up to his multi-award winning Microcosmos (1996), a lyrical documentary about insects. If you’ve seen Microcosmos and liked it, The Travelling Birds will be a blessing. For those of you who didn’t like it (though I can’t imagine there are any), TTB might still be a treat. Filmed over the course of three years, all over the world, TTB simply follows various kinds of birds who, you guessed it, travel. There’s no story here, no point to drive home, no message. Although... there is. TTB is not a dry documentary you can catch on Animal Planet, that tells you about the eating habits of the Canadian Goose. Instead, as with Microcosmos, it is much more a lyrical film, using it’s subject to display some of the most astonishing shots you have ever seen (trust me, Terence Malick could learn a thing or two from these guys). See THIS LINK for a couple of examples, though the pics aren’t even remotely close to the beauty and wonder of the actual film (you can also download the press kit; first 3 –unimportant- pages are in Dutch, but all the rest is in English).
TTB is as much a film about birds as it is about nature, and even film. While watching TTB, I got a glowing feeling all over me that had nothing to do with the beauty or peculiarness of the depicted bird species. Well, not alone anyways. It had to do with the fact that the film showed me what great things were possible with this medium we all so dearly love. I had the same with Waking Life: it wasn’t just the animation, or the subject matters that made me love that; it had more to do with a feeling of uniqueness, of experiencing something I have never experienced before in a cinema. That exact feeling came over me while watching TTB.
Do you ever have to giggle at something you see on the screen, just because it is so marvelous you simply cannot control the joy you’re getting out of it? I do, and TTB made me laugh from beginning to end. From seeing one particular kind (I don’t know the first thing about birds) going head-to-head in some crazy race running over the water over and over again (you’ve got to see it to believe it), or a beautiful bird doing what resembles a balletdance, to birds loving each other with strange beak-kisses and the craziest bird-species you have seen in your life (you’ll know which I mean when you see it), TTB has too much wonderful images and scenes to tell you about in a single review, and it’s much more fun discovering for yourself anyways. The things Jaques Perrin and his wonderful team put on the screen are mindblowing. Oh... and the flying. I haven’t even mentioned the flying yet. ‘You’ll believe a bird can fly!’ Okay, so that wouldn’t make the greatest tagline in the world, but the undeniable highlights of TTB come when the birds are in flight. And they are a lot. Thankfully. I have read many critics complaining how repetetive and even boring the flying got.. Let me tell you, I pray they’ll release some kind of extended cut where I can have 5 hours of birds flying, cause it took my breath away. Every time. You don’t just see the birds flying, you actually fly WITH them, AMONGST them, over water, earth and clouds. And it’s as thrilling as seeing Frodo fight the cave-troll, or Yoda fight Count Dooku. Okay it’s not, but it’s damn close.
BEGIN SPOILER
I’d almost have you believe TTB consists of nothing else but wonderful and magical moments. This, however, is not the case. About halfway through the film, there’s a sudden shift of tone. After 45 mins. of delightment, there comes a shock, to which I reacted in complete horror. I’m talking ‘I am your father’ kind of horror... It starts out as another marvelous shot depicting a flying bird, till suddenly.. POW! It’s shot down. And another, and another. And from fairy-tale images, TTB suddenly shows us birds walking through industrial cities filled with smog, on board of battle ships, stuck in oil... Still with the same visual flair, but with such a grimmer tone to it (obviously). The film gets past this, and returns to the astounding beauty of the preceding half, but this horrific bit is ultimately where TTB triumphs. Mostly because it manages to shock it’s audience and thereby make it aware of the impact the film is having on them. I mean, a film about birds (as you can probably tell, I’m very reluctant to call this a documentary) that makes you feel warm and sad, amazed and horrified, wonderful and awful, all in a measly 80 mins... I would call that something truly special.
END SPOILER
I’ll just about cut this off, I realise I’ve been rambling on far too long, but that’s what this film does. I haven’t said so many things I intentionally set out to say, about the function and meaning of film, about the beauty of mother nature, about why we should cherish a film like this, but I don’t feel the need to anymore. Just go see it, and figure it out for yourself. See it on the biggest screen you can, this is vintage IMAX-material. I just want to say one more thing: special credit goes to Bruno Coulais, who is responsible for the fantastic music that accompanies TTB and (also much like Microcosmos) adds another layer of pleasure and beauty to the whole. To me, The Travelling Birds was one of the most rewarding cinematic experiences this year so far. Two of my closest friends who went with me, neither being a particular birdlover, felt exactly the same. Three word summary: Poetry in motion. And that is a compliment.
Returning to my post... TK421
p.s.: here’s a link to the trailer: CLICK HERE!!
Though it is in Quicktime, it’s not the greatest quality, but I couldn’t find another one.
Thanks, man. I certainly plan to keep my eyes out for what sounds like a fascinating documentary, and I appreciate you taking the time to write in about it.
"Moriarty" out.
