May 06, 2003

HORSEFEATHERS GOES TO THE MOVIES: TWO WINNERS

May 5, 2003

Yale Kramer

Sorry, no great explosions, no tortuous car chases, or bone crushing body blows, no heists, soft-core pornography, sad, charming poets dying slowly of AIDS, or extra terrestrials. Just birds and words. But what birds and words.

BIRDS

The first film, “Winged Migration,” is the story of those races of birds that must fly north every Spring to the Arctic Circle and south every Fall to warmer climes (in the northern hemisphere and the reverse in the southern hemisphere). They must do this in order to survive and procreate. There is really nothing technical or scientific that is added by way of explanation in the film except for the names of the species of birds that are shown. This is really not a film about natural science at all—only about the beauty and power of nature.

We are given a glimpse into the cruel, remorseless life cycles of these migratory birds who must fly thousands of miles twice each year in order to go on flying thousands of miles twice each year. I suppose in between these migrations there is time for family life and some cavorting, and we are shown some of these scenes as well. But the power of the film comes from the depictions of the relentless and impartial forces of nature at work in these migrations.

Awe-inspiring, I suppose, is the word that best conveys the impact of this film. First there is the beauty and strangeness of each of the dozens of species shown. The way they look and walk and fly, take-off and land, communicate with each other, nurture their young and die. The uniqueness and variation is stunning.

Then there is the breathtaking photography. The innumerable shots of the birds in flight, from above, below, from outer space, from every conceivable compass point and over every kind of terrain. And at the other extreme, the incredible ultra close-ups of feeding baby birds and hatching chicks and courtship rituals. One can hardly do anything but gape in wonder.

Then there are the compelling shots of glaciers breaking off, the wrath of ocean storms in winter, the frightening power of landslides after a blizzard making us feel quite small and weak.

And finally there is the awesome technique involved with the making of this film. The pictures make it seem as though you are one of the birds flying alongside your bird comrades. In one shot it’s as though you were flying on the back of one of the birds. Apparently these shots were taken by many different teams of pilots and photographers hanging out of gliders, balloons, and ultra-light aircraft to create these mind-boggling scenes. While you are watching the movie you are totally unaware of the intervening presences of those who are bringing us these scenes, but afterward we realize what heros these people are and we take some pride in the fact that they were able to face and defy nature.

The net effect of this powerful movie is to give one a little perspective about where we fit in the ultimate scheme of things. See it, but see it in a movie theatre rather than on a TV screen.

WORDS

Then there is “Spellbound.” This one is the story of 8 kids from all over the United States who are headed to Washington D.C. to participate in the annual National Spelling Bee. They come from families of all classes and varieties of backgrounds. They, families and kids, are all yearning for the title of champion speller of the U.S.

Of course what makes this movie so good is that it’s not about spelling at all, but about people, the kids and their families. How they go about preparing for this big moment in their lives, what winning means to them, and how they take defeat and triumph.

It’s always interesting to see a variety of individuals respond to the same stimulus, but this situation is even more fun because the film shows the family environments of the kids, what their teachers say about them, and what part their parents have played in their lives.

The film is low-keyed, but enjoyable from start to finish and full of touching and funny moments. And there isn’t a single bird to be seen in the whole movie.

These two films are a perfect double feature. The first gives you some tragic perspective about your place in the universe—we are an insignificant grain of sand in the pitiless workings of nature. We are a blink in time and tears for us will be washed into the vast oceans over which fly millions of heedless creatures.

The second brings us back to the comedic warmth and comfortable follies of our human nature. It shows us what silly, pathetic, lovable creatures we are—that some of us are led to migrate annually to Washington. D.C. in order to reach for the American Dream. Let’s all huddle together and laugh and cry.