Radio AN INCREDIBLE STORY OF COURAGE,
ADVENTURE AND SURVIVAL
•E A C H W I N T E R, alone in the pitiless ice deserts of Antarctica, deep
in the most inhospitable terrain on Earth, a truly remarkable journey
takes place, as it has done for millenia. Emperor penguins in their
thousands abandon the deep blue security of their ocean home and
clamber onto the frozen land to begin their long journey to the
continent’s desolate interior, a region so bleak, so extreme, it supports
no other life. In single file the penguins march, blinded by blizzards,
buffeted by 250 k.p.h. gales. Resolute, indomitable, driven by the
overpowering urge to reproduce, to assure the survival of the species.
•Guided by instinct, by shadows beneath the treacherous ice, by the
otherworldly radiance of the Southern Cross, they head unerringly
for their traditional breeding ground where - after a ritual courtship
of intricate dances and delicate manoeuvring, accompanied by
a cacophony of ecstatic song - they will pair off into monogamous
couples and mate.
••The days grow shorter, the weather ever more bitter. The females remain
long enough only to lay. Once this is accomplished, exhausted by weeks
without nourishment, they begin their return journey across 200
kilometres of ice-field to the fish-filled seas. The journey is hazardous,
and rapacious sea leopards a predatory threat.
The male emperors are left behind to guard and hatch the precious
eggs, which they cradle at all times on their claws. Subjected to -40°C
temperatures and the terrible trials of the polar winter, they too face
great dangers.
•After four long months during which the males eat nothing, the eggs
begin to hatch. Once they have emerged into their ghostly white new
world, the chicks can survive for only 48 hours on their own food
reserves. If their mothers are late returning from the ocean with food,
the newly-hatched young will die.
••Once the families are reunited, the roles reverse, the mothers
remaining with their new young while their mates head, exhausted
and starved, for the sea, and food. While the adults fish, the chicks
face the ever-present threat of attack by rapacious giant petrels.
As the weather grows warmer and the ice floes finally begin to crack
and melt, the adults will repeat their arduous journey countless
times, marching many hundreds of kilometres over some of the most
treacherous territory on Earth, until the chicks are ready to take their
first faltering dive into the deep blue waters of the Antarctic ocean.
•Standing proud on the ice frontier, the emperor embodies the most
powerful moments of existence. Love and solidarity combine in the
heroic struggle for life.
••With short steps, bent under the pitiless burden of
a driving snowstorm, the emperor penguin labours
through a vast labyrinth of ice. Around him, all is
white, all is in violent flux. Yet the valiant bird
never falters, undaunted by seemingly
insurmountable obstacles. He keeps going. In this
land where no other creature ventures, the emperor
continues on to his romantic rendezvous.
As it follows the winter migration of the emperor
penguin, "The Emperor’s Journey" tells a tale of
legendary proportions, portraying the strange,
spectacular destiny of powerful and emotionally-involving
characters, rich in courage and humour,
mystery and manifest drama.
My goal is to dig from the ice a story which has
never seen the light of day for want of a teller. A
true story, however extraordinary. A story repeated
every winter, as it has been for hundreds of thousands
of years. But there has never been a generation of
men to witness and shape it, to pass it down.
For man has never colonised the Antarctic, this
amazing ‘terra australis incognita’. The emperor
penguin had never encountered man before the
first polar explorers arrived barely a century ago.
In 1950, when tentative, makeshift bases were
established here, scientific observation had
replaced legend as Man’s preferred narrative.
The emperor penguin and man have not lived
together long enough for folktales or myths to
develop. They remain strangers, crossing on rare
occasions in the vast desert expanses of the Antarctic.
With this in mind, my desire is to tell a real story:
through the extraordinary images of the emperor
penguin during the austral winter, images that have
always fascinated me; and with words worthy of both
the Antarctic’s excessive nature, and the emperor’s
epic destiny.
It is time for the emperor’s legend to be told.
- LUC JACQUET
D I R E C T O R ’ S S T A T E M E N T
•DIRECTOR Luc Jacque
Prize-winning film maker, documentarist, cameraman and
photographer Luc Jacquet is renowned for his nature and
wildlife documentaries, which draw heavily on both his
scientific background and his great talent for filmed
narrative. "The Emperor’s Journey" is his first feature film.
PRODUCTION Bonne Pioche
PRODUCERS Yves Darondeau, Christophe Lioud,
Emmanuel Priou
One of France’s leading documentary production
companies, Bonne Pioche produces a varied slate of
documentary films for all the major French channels and
a wide range of international broadcasters. The company’s
work been recognised with numerous awards at festivals
world-wide, and enjoyed widespread international
distribution. Bonne Pioche is also active in the
production of TV advertising and music promos.
SOUND (DESIGN) Laurent Quaglio
Les Triplettes de Belleville (2003), Dead End (2003)
Vatel (2000), The Ninth Gate (1999)
Serial Lover (1998), Le Bossu (1997)
Death and the Maiden (1995), Bitter Moon (1992)
The Bear (1988), Manon des Sources (1987)
Jean de Florette (1986)
SOUND (MIX) Gérard Lamps
Monsieur Abrahim et les Fleurs du Coran (2003)
Stupeur et Tremblements aka Fear and Trembling (2003)
Mon Idole (2002), Une Femme de Menage (2002)
Laissez-passer (2002), Le Peuple Migrateur (2001)
Belphégor (2001), Harry, He's Here to Help (2000)
Léon (1994), Daddy Nostalgie (1990), Nikita (1990)
Jean de Florette (1986)
ORIGINAL MUSIC Emilie Simon
A dazzling and swiftly rising star of the French music
scene, 24-year-old singer, composer and producer
Emilie Simon has released one album to date. Featuring
contributions from sonic genius Markus Dravs (Bjork,
Brian Eno) the eponymous release combines ethereal
and haunting melodic pop songs with otherworldy and
innovative soundscapes of great beauty.
Discography: "Emilie Simon" (Universal) 2003
- Victoire de la Musique 2004
DP Laurent Chalet, Jérôme Maison
EDITOR Sabine Emiliani
There has never before been a comprehensive feature-length
film depicting the extraordinary struggles and
triumphs of the emperor penguin. Our task was a mammoth
one, requiring a full film crew to set up camp in the
Antarctic during the winter and remain for thirteen months
with no possibility of sea or air transportation. Thus
stranded, our constant presence allowed us to capture the
full and remarkable variety of penguin behaviour, as well
as many bizarre and unique encounters.
Of the 40 or so extant emperor colonies world-wide, only
four are studied on anything like a regular basis. Only one
is accessible without mounting an independent expedition:
the Geological Headland Archipelago colony in Adelie, a
few hundred metres from the French scientific centre of
Dumont d’Urville. The centre provided the perfect base
for our shoot, and our close relationship with the Institute
for Polar Research guaranteed us effective, active
cooperation. We are also deeply indebted to the support
we received from the French Institute Paul-Emile Victor.
Filmed in super 16mm to convey the full visual impact of
this magnificent environment, "The Emperor’s Journey"
includes underwater footage of the penguins’ winter
activities, shot by experienced divers using specialized
cameras and never previously captured in such breathtakingly
beautiful detail.
Home
0 Comments