DVD Review: Seasons

Seasons
by Jacques Perrin and Jacques Cluzaud (DVD 590 Sea)

Having watched and been astonished by Winged Migration, a 2001 documentary about migratory birds that included some of the most amazing flying footage I’d ever seen, I was intrigued when I saw this 2015 documentary, also by co-directors Jacques Perrin and Jacques Cluzaud, on the DVD displays at the downtown library.

Seasons looks at the history of the animals that populated the deep forests of Europe, and the ways their lives have changed since in the incursion and proliferation of humans over the past centuries. Much as with Winged Migration, the footage the filmmakers have captured is breathtaking and eye-popping. With minimal narration (which is in French with English subtitles), the filmmakers let the animals speak for themselves. We get to see everything from tiny beetles and mice, to massive bears, wild horses, and wolf packs, all in their native environments. Whether we are watching a bobcat stalking a deer, or a family of hedgehogs trying to safely cross a cobblestone road, or a pair of brown bears fighting for breeding dominance, or a mother wolf tenderly raising her pack of cubs, all the animals have their own distinct personalities. Some of the “special features” on the disc explain how some of the stunning footage was captured — animals raised in close association with humans so they would not be skittish around cameras and cameramen. However, this can still only account for a small percentage of the incredible images included herein.

The directors are honest and open about their goals to get people thinking about the impact humanity has had on the natural world, and about continuing global climate changes, but the message isn’t overly heavy-handed.

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Winged Migration and Oceans, two previous documentaries by the same filmmakers. Sadly, Oceans is not owned by the Lincoln City Libraries.]

[ Internet Movie Database entry for this film ]

Recommended by Scott C.
Bennett Martin Public Library

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