It took writer and co-director Jacques Perrin more than three years of filming around the world to bring "Le Peuple Migrateur" (Traveling Birds) to the big screen. Although the technological feat of following migratory birds around the globe should be enough to leave audiences open-mouthed with admiration, the movie ultimately fails to leave a deep impression.
At first, French moviegoers gave "Peuple" a tepid reception. But over the past few weeks, interest has picked up, with the boxoffice showing healthy admissions.
As with his previous foray into the animal world, producing the award-winning "Microcosmos", all elements are here -- stunning scenery, sharply observed animal behavior, brief moments of humor. Yet to an ornithologically challenged audience, all birds are alike. It's not really the birds that steal the show but the notion that Perrin brought such an awe-inspiring idea to fruition. He is definitely a man with a plan.
Four years ago, he set up five breeding centers, in France, Canada and Iceland, where birds were reared to become accustomed to a human presence. They also became familiar with the machines that Perrin would use to bring about his dream of actually flying with the birds themselves. These included microlights and hot-air balloons.
The movie is not without moments of real drama, like when birds escape an avalanche where huge walls of ice fall into the sea. Perrin filmed other stunning scenes such as dawn over the Great Wall of China or a flock of birds flying down the Hudson River with the famous New York skyline in the background. But most of the time, the movie runs as a wildlife documentary without the illuminating and explanatory background. There are only so many times that an unidentified flock of birds, flying over an unidentified piece of land, can hold a viewer's interest.
The lack of real commentary highlights the absence of any logical sequence to the filming. The movie jumps from species to species and country to country without any rationale. Add to this an eclectic choice of music to accompany the migrating birds, and it's not just the endless aerial shots that leave the audience feeling dizzy.
LE PEUPLE MIGRATEUR
Galatee Films
Credits:
Producer: Christophe Barratier
Director: Jacques Perrin, Jacques Cluzeaud, Michel Debats
Screenwriter: Jacques Perrin
Directors of photography: Thierry Machado, Dominique Bentil, Bernard Lutic, Luc Droin, Laurent Fleutot, Michel Terrasse, Syllvie Carcedo, Laurent Charbonnier, Philippe Guarguil
Music: Bruno Coulais
Editor: Marie-Josephe Yoyotte
Production designer: Regis Nicolino
No MPAA rating
Color/stereo
Running time -- 100 minutes...
At first, French moviegoers gave "Peuple" a tepid reception. But over the past few weeks, interest has picked up, with the boxoffice showing healthy admissions.
As with his previous foray into the animal world, producing the award-winning "Microcosmos", all elements are here -- stunning scenery, sharply observed animal behavior, brief moments of humor. Yet to an ornithologically challenged audience, all birds are alike. It's not really the birds that steal the show but the notion that Perrin brought such an awe-inspiring idea to fruition. He is definitely a man with a plan.
Four years ago, he set up five breeding centers, in France, Canada and Iceland, where birds were reared to become accustomed to a human presence. They also became familiar with the machines that Perrin would use to bring about his dream of actually flying with the birds themselves. These included microlights and hot-air balloons.
The movie is not without moments of real drama, like when birds escape an avalanche where huge walls of ice fall into the sea. Perrin filmed other stunning scenes such as dawn over the Great Wall of China or a flock of birds flying down the Hudson River with the famous New York skyline in the background. But most of the time, the movie runs as a wildlife documentary without the illuminating and explanatory background. There are only so many times that an unidentified flock of birds, flying over an unidentified piece of land, can hold a viewer's interest.
The lack of real commentary highlights the absence of any logical sequence to the filming. The movie jumps from species to species and country to country without any rationale. Add to this an eclectic choice of music to accompany the migrating birds, and it's not just the endless aerial shots that leave the audience feeling dizzy.
LE PEUPLE MIGRATEUR
Galatee Films
Credits:
Producer: Christophe Barratier
Director: Jacques Perrin, Jacques Cluzeaud, Michel Debats
Screenwriter: Jacques Perrin
Directors of photography: Thierry Machado, Dominique Bentil, Bernard Lutic, Luc Droin, Laurent Fleutot, Michel Terrasse, Syllvie Carcedo, Laurent Charbonnier, Philippe Guarguil
Music: Bruno Coulais
Editor: Marie-Josephe Yoyotte
Production designer: Regis Nicolino
No MPAA rating
Color/stereo
Running time -- 100 minutes...
- 1/22/2002
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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