Shot on location at the South Pole, and starring the Emperor Penguin. And what a location it is. Adelie Land in Antarctica is the harshest place on earth, where temperatures can drop to -100°C and winds reach 150 mph. During the nine-month winter, the penguin virtually starves during its quest through this white desert to find the perfect spot to mate. French filmmakers have long been attracted by wildlife-feature films (Microcosmos and the Traveling Birds), and have a knack for blending scientific observations with a dramatic narrative. The result is a new movie genre: the animal docu-drama. This entry is one of the best, though the Chinese theatrical version is less than charming due to the many cuts. Indeed, all that remains is annoying; the Chinese narration is clumsy, and the print is blurred and grainy. Look for the English version, narrated by Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman.
Bonne Pioche/Buena Vista

(c) that's Shanghai Magazine
Chief editor: Steven Crane
October 2005 issue