Travelling Birds

Colour, 35mm
France, 2001, 95 min
Section: Horizons

Synopsis

A creative team similar to that which put together Microcosmos (1996), the well-received artsy documentary investigating the secrets of the insect kingdom, has made a parallel film focusing on birds and their remarkable ability to migrate. But the film does not merely prove birds’ exceptional orientation sense and nearly indefatigable will to live. It also serves as a metaphor for the hope of return. For many species migration represents an essential necessity providing for successful reproduction and allowing them to survive under often extreme conditions. To humans, however, it may seem a poetic description of life determined to endure despite adversities of weather, climate or the twistings of fate. Travelling Birds speaks to the viewer through poetic images, music and, above all, through the beauty of nature itself. Director Jacques Perrin narrates. At last year’s César’s the film was nominated for Best Director and Music and won for Best Editing.

About the director

Jacques Perrin (b. 1941, Paris) became famous as an actor, taking the 1966 Volpi Cup at Venice for his role in Almost a Man. As producer, he received a 1968 Academy Award Best Picture nomination for Z (dir. by Costa-Gravas). At the end of the sixties he began to produce many noteworthy documentaries and features: in collaboration with Christophe Barratier and Yvette Mallet he won a César for producing Microcosmos (1996), which also won the same award for music, editing, cinematography and sound; it won the Technical Grand Prize at Cannes as well. He cooperated with Jacques Cluzaud and Michel Debats on the likewise poetic Travelling Birds. He has directed the TV series Médecins des hommes (1988), produced the impressive adventure film Himalaya – l’enfance d’un chef (1999) and both produced ad directed his latest fim L’Empire du milieu de sud (2002).