Winged Migration

A remarkable technical achievement and a surprisingly gripping film, 'Winged Migration' is a documentary about - oh yes! - the migratory patterns of birds all over the world. Filmed over the course of some three years and on all seven continents, 'Winged Migration' captures these quite incredible creatures as they set out on their annual trek to warmer climates. At the start of the film, there is a disclaimer stating that none of the images were made using special effects, something which is made even more extraordinary when you see how intense and breathtaking some of footage is.

Director Perrin (also responsible for 'Microcosmos') is far more interested in capturing these birds on their natural journeys than going into much detail about their species. Although this has some obvious drawbacks (to wit: what do sandhill cranes like to do for kicks?), the sheer spectacle of these aviaries in flight compensates. Like all of the best documentaries, 'Winged Migration' has a magnetic, almost hypnotic, pull on its audience, trading off a selection of toweringly handsome images that are impossible not to marvel at. The only drawback is that sometimes the music is a little too self-conscious, but that's a small enough price to pay for a movie filled with so many striking visuals.