WINGED MIGRATION
aka LE PEUPLE MIGRATEUR

Year: 2001
USA: Sony Pictures Classics
UK: Columbia Tristar Films (UK)
Cast: Jacques Perrin
Director: Jacques Perrin
Country: France
Language: French (English subtitles)
USA: 85 mins
UK: 89 mins
USA Rated: G for general audiences
UK Certificate: U
USA Release Date: 18 April 2003 (Limited Release)
UK Release Date: 5 September 2003


Synopsis

Long one of France's most respected producers (Academy award winners Z and BLACK AND WHITE IN COLOR) and actors (THE YOUNG GIRLS OF ROHEFORT, DONKEY SKIN, THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE WOLF) Jacques Perrin has more recently had a highly successful career creating films about nature LE PEUPLE SINGE, MICROCOSMOS, HIMALAYA). Now with his penultimate film WINGED MIGRATION, Perrin takes on his greatest challenge yet: exploring the mystery of birds in flight.

Three years of shooting were needed and five teams of people (more than 450 people, including 17 pilots and 14 cinematographers) were necessary to follow a variety of bird migrations through forty countries and each of the seven continents. The film covers landscapes that range from the Eiffel Tower and Monument Valley to the remote reaches of the Arctic and the Amazon.

All manner of man-made machines were employed, including planes, gliders, helicopters and baloons and numerous innovative techniques and ingeniously designed cameras were utilised to allow the filmmakers to fly alongside, above , below and infront of their subjects. The result of the film of staggering beauty that opens one's eyes to the ineffable wonders of the natural world. Narrated by Jacques Perrin.