There seems to be a recent trend towards documentary film and using film as a tool for education. Some of these films are more beautiful than others. I enjoyed Super Size Me, but beautiful is not a word I would use to describe it. Recently, I watched two very beautiful documentaries; The Botany of Desire and March of the Penguins.
The Botany of Desire explained the benefits of biodiversity through four short story documentaries about the history of apples, tulips, marijuana and potatoes. The movie was informative and the photography offered the viewer an aesthetic experience. It speaks to people who do not normally critique the production of agriculture, as well as people who are knowledgeable about the subject. In today's society, learning about where our food comes from and what we eat is become more and more of interest to people.
The March of the Penguins began and the logo for National Geographic came on the screen. (It was written and directed by Luc Jacquet and co-produced by Bonne Pioche and the National Geographic Society.) It made me think of what life would be like without National Geographic. National Geographic brings us some of the world's best photography and have been putting people in awe for generations. The beauty of nature and world cultures is rarely communicated so beautifully as in the photography associated with National Geographic. Aside from the skill level of the photographers, there is also the subject matter they capture. Most people will never get to see aspects of nature that are brought to us by National Geographic. It allows us to see the most obscure creatures in existence and travel to the most remote places on earth., both with an aesthetic experience.
The film captures the whole 9 months of the emperor penguin breeding ritual and present it as a full length documentary film. With the narration, the penguins feel as though they are animated. They are monogamous during these 9 months and exhibit family like behaviors that humans are familiar with. They do everything they can to protect their child from the harsh winter and show signs of feeling bad when the baby doesn't survive. They also show signs of affection among their mate and child during this time. According to Wikipedia, there was even some controversy about the messages of family values that the film communicates, but the director confirmed, "... they are just birds."
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