Movie Review

Love and Survival In the Antarctic

A Movie Review By Susan Frome

Imagine watching short, black-draped monks, heads down, marching in line across a bleak ice world? What would you think? That possibly they are devoted arctic clerics on the move, or perhaps little Eskimos, each dressed in the same dark cloth, making their way home safely, we hope. These are the first images in Luc Jacquet's documentary "March of the Penguins." Yes, the title should give it away, but, at first, we cannot believe these human-like figures are penguins.

But they are. As the camera moves in to introduce us to these amazing beings, we see that these are emperor penguins at least three to four feet tall. Although considered short in mankind's estimation, they bear a majesty befitting their name. With the help of Morgan Freeman's gentle narration, we learn that these "Emperors" (and "Empresses") have been bequeathed, through their genes, a process of regeneration that is really unforgivable. This pattern of keeping the species going for these flightless birds has been going on for millenniums and is truly amazing.

Immediately we are taken into this frigid landscape, bare and devoid of life of any other kind. The penguins have come from a sea in Antarctica and are on their way to an almost hidden place of mystery, a place they return to each year where propagation will take place. This is many miles from their home by the sea, but nothing will stop them. It is thought, says Mr. Freeman, "that this area has the most frozen ice so there will be no danger of losing an egg in an ice crack."

The trip is arduous. They have filled up on fish so that they can last a long time (months) without food. When they finally reach the place where thousands of penguins have gathered, they do the next natural thing "find a mate" which is accomplished rather rapidly. When this happens, the penguin pairs "make whoopee," that is, rub their necks together, make loving sounds, curl up around each other, and so on. It is truly a happy sight.

After a while, an egg appears inside a pouch under the female's belly but also is cradled between her feet. The next project is to practice passing the egg between the female and the male. This requires unbelievable adeptness. Eventually the male will take the egg and protect it between his legs and feet from the unbearable cold which can go down to seventy degrees below zero. The fathers now have to care for the egg, that is, keep it warm, while the mothers go all the way back to the sea to feed themselves again and make the arduous march back to the camp with food for the newly hatched eggs!
The sight of the fathers huddling together and vying for their place in the center where the warmth is the highest, and moaning together because of the cold and hunger is heart-rendering. By now we have imaginatively joined this group ourselves, feeling what they feel, shifting places to let others work towards the center as well, and worried about what will happen next. This is surely a drama if ever there was one.

And this is what makes this a fine film. We are deeply involved with the story as the story is about life, new life, and death. And the photography is excellent. During the final credits, Mr. Jacquet and his team are shown in their Antarctic suits, hats, boots, and masks, carrying cameras and other equipment around in the ice and snow. Photographing this documentary is a miracle, much like the penguins' story. When the newborn penguins begin to peck through their shells and emerge into this bitterly cold and lifeless world, the camera is right there to catch it all. There are photos of the light trying to make its way over the horizon as winter begins to end and spring promises to arrive at last. There are underwater close-up shots of the mothers back at the sea, diving deep to get the food for their babies while sharks, gritting their teeth, chase them here and there. We watch them, afraid to look, just as fearfully as we watched "Jaws" at one time.

Rest assured that the cycle will begin anew, from February, the end of the Antarctic summer when the sea ice is melted, to the next February as emperor penguins by the thousands pop out of the ocean to gather and march inland once more, in single file about to choose new mates.

Mr. Jacquet and his team are to be commended for bringing us an ancient story from nature. The movies generally take us away from nature; it is important and necessary to confront and behold nature's mysteries much more often.

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