Africa is host to two great animal migrations each year: that of millions of wildebeest, whose annual trek to fresh pastures has been featured in many a nature documentary, and that of the lesser flamingo, whose mysterious descent on a northern Tanzanian salt lake is the source of a fascinating, centuries-old breeding ritual. As the flamingos feast in the algae-rich waters of Lake Natron, their sustenance causes their feathers, legs and eyes to flush, granting them the bold splashes of crimson necessary to attract a mate. As their desire blossoms, the region's intense heat rapidly assaults the surface of the lake, evaporating inches of water in days and leaving behind scaly sheets of salt. The salt, in turn, gathers in the center of the lake, forming an ideal makeshift island for the flamingos to build their nests, coddle their eggs and hatch their young. It's a natural marvel; one that proves even more intriguing as predators, comically villainous storks and ravenous hyenas among them, close in on the newborn chicks struggling to survive, learning to fly and preparing for their own annual return to Lake Natron. Yes, Africa's wildebeest migration has garnered far more attention over the years, but as The Crimson Wing directors Matthew Aeberhard and Leander Ward see it, the flamingo migration is just as extraordinary.
Ladies and gentlemen, may I present the Phoenicopterus minor...
The Crimson Wing isn't a run-of-the-mill, science-and-statistics nature documentary. Much like Jacques Perrin and Jacques Cluzaud's Oceans, it's a more cinematic affair designed to artfully connect with something deep within the human spirit; something beyond mere intellect. As writer Melanie Finn explains it, "we knew from the beginning we were not going to be making a scientific film. We wanted to make a film that engaged people emotionally... to see the natural world as something they could learn from rather than learn about." Aeberhard adds, "so we made very clear choices. We wanted this to be more of a story. We didn't want to specifically set out to educate people. We wanted to involve people in this wonderful part of the planet that's so spectacular, so under threat. We wanted to bring this beauty into people's homes." And in many ways, they've succeeded. Aeberhard's stoic, at-times startling lakeside photography is nothing short of breathtaking and Finn's dramatic script, narrated with gentle ease by UK journalist and television personality Mariella Frostrup, sets a fitting tone that oozes palpable awe and wonder. Granted, when we leave the flamingos, the species is as much a mystery as it was when the birds first invade the shores of Lake Natron, but their enigmatic perseverance and gangly grace often overcome the documentary's relative lack of detailed scientific fact.
But unlike Oceans, The Crimson Wing doesn't involve countless creatures dwelling beneath the sea or the sheer majesty of a vast, untambale underwater kingdom. It focuses on one species (albeit one numbering in the hundreds of thousands) in one place at one time. The visuals and events that unfold connect on an emotional level, that much is certain, but without key contextual information -- the sort of factoids that aren't exactly missed in a sweeping, intercontinental epic like Oceans -- too many questions are left unanswered, too many mysteries remain unsolved. Without any footage of the pale-pink flamingos prior to their arrival at Lake Natron, the sudden streaks of crimson that erupt on their feathers don't pack as much visceral punch as they otherwise could. The word "mysterious" is used again and again, but theories are rarely posed. Aeberhard and Finn's science-skirting is taken to unnecessary extremes, and the narrative is more secretive than it needs to be. The formation of Lake Natron's salt island is scrutinized, why not the flamingos breeding behavior? The algae's effect on their plumage? Their frustrating reaction to predators? The exact nature of their relationship with their mates and hatchlings? Each topic is addressed in passing, but entire scenes unspool with little more than lyrical musings. Don't get me wrong, there are a number of scenes that benefit from the filmmakers' hands-off, show-n-tell approach, but there are others that feel a tad hollow, even incomplete. If I'm going to watch a flock of flamingos flick their heads from side to side for four minutes, at least let me know what I'm looking at and what makes it worth so much screentime.
And that's The Crimson Wing. A striking production that soars one minute, idles the next; touches the heart with a truly moving scene, but follows it with a dull sequence of wordless repetition. It isn't a misguided film by any stretch of the imagination, just a somewhat underdeveloped nature documentary. It's also tough to identify its target audience. Disney presents Wings as a family-friendly stunner, but the stork and hyena hunts will unsettle some viewers and leave kids begging for some judicious fast-forwarding. Likewise, its slow pace will send children scurrying for their playrooms, leave easily distracted adults checking their watches and risk turning off those who don't immediately fall in love with its squawking subjects. Is it dry? Not entirely. Is it too frightening for the younger members of your household? A bit, but not enough to render it unwatchable. Is it as engrossing or powerful as Oceans (arriving on store shelves on the same day)? No, and Wing's higher pricepoint doesn't help matters. The film's love letter to the lesser flamingo is an enchanting look at an oft-overlooked African species. Unfortunately, I didn't fall for the flamingo or its mysteries, at least not as hard as Aeberhard, Ward and Finn clearly did. That doesn't necessarily make The Crimson Wing a lesser documentary, but it does make it a secondary Disneynature release.
The Crimson Wing's evocative, salt-spattered imagery is beholden to the fierce Tanzanian elements, but Disney's 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer nevertheless comes close, oh-so-close, to high definition perfection. Pale rose-petal pinks, bold splashes of sun-baked color, lavish blacks and blazing streaks of crimson make Matthew Aeberhard's artful photography come to life, even in the otherwise monochromatic plains surrounding the red waters of Lake Natron. Detail is crisp and clean as well, even though some minor ringing is apparent throughout. Edges are sharp and satisfying, the film's tasteful veneer of grain isn't intrusive or inconsistent, and every fine, feathery texture is beautifully resolved. Like most documentaries, soft shots make regular appearances, but always trace back to Wing's original source rather than the studio's proficient presentation. Contrast is strong and reliable, and while minor banding distracts on occasion, I didn't notice any other notable issues. Artifacting, aliasing, errant noise, crush, digital anomalies and their ilk are nowhere to be found, and Disney's efforts are appreciated from beginning to end. Documentary enthusiasts will be most pleased.
The Crimson Wing's excellent DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track isn't as enveloping or gratifying as Oceans's masterful mix -- Aeberhard's sonics simply aren't as aggressive or arresting, nor should they be considering the two films' wildly different subjects -- but the results rarely disappoint. Mariella Frostrup's pleasant narration is warm, mellow and pitch-perfect, not to mention smartly layered within Paul Davies' smartly seasoned soundscape. The rear speakers are nimble when called upon and lively as needed, and directionality is fairly convincing throughout. Low-end output is a tad reserved, but never dishearteningly so. The heavy, hundreds-strong chorus of flapping wings is earnest and formidable, and The Cinematic Orchestra's score lends welcome weight to the experience. If anything, the soundfield is a bit front-heavy at times. When Aeberhard's flamingo flocks thin out, Crimson Wing simply ceases to be as immersive as it is when they're congregating en masse. And while the effect lends itself to later scenes involving a lost chick, it isn't as befitting earlier sequences. Regardless, Disney's DTS-HD mix is a solid lossless offering that complements its striking video transfer nicely.
The Blu-ray edition of The Crimson Wing: Mystery of the Flamingos nudges past this week's foremost Disneynature release, Oceans, with a slightly fuller supplemental package. Directors Matthew Aeberhard and Leander Ward helm an excellent "Filmmakers Annotations" Picture-in-Picture track featuring dozens of interviews with the filmmakers and crew, behind-the-scenes footage of their efforts, pop-up trivia tidbits and other notable information. Next up is "Lake Natron Diaries: Behind The Crimson Wing" (HD/SD, 20 minutes), a five-part documentary that explores the production and its feathered subjects even further, all in thoughtful detail. While Disney presents the overview in high definition, the individual segments -- "Life at the Camp," "Life of the Flamingo" "Making Of," "Lake Natron" and "Music" -- were created at a much lower resolution, meaning the resulting video is rather subpar. Still, I doubt anyone will complain. Beyond that, a "Living Planet" experience replaces the usual Disneynature "Living Menu," but essentially amounts to the same thing (an interactive globe peppered with selectable hotspots that update frequently via BD-Live), an auto-looping "Crimson Wing Screensaver" (HD, 5 minutes) comprised of photography and music from the film itself, and a remarkably rousing trailer for the next Disneynature theatrical release, African Cats (HD, 2 minutes), tops off the extras.
The Crimson Wing: Mystery of the Flamingos isn't as arresting as I had hoped, but it is worth watching, if for not other reason than to learn about a species passed over by most nature documentaries. Disney's Blu-ray release is much better -- its filmic video transfer is gorgeous, its DTS-HD Master Audio mix is strong and stable, and its supplemental package is, in some ways, more satisfying than the film itself -- but casual documentary fans may want to rent this one before committing any significant cash to a purchase.
Blu-ray bundles with The Crimson Wing: Mystery of the Flamingos (1 bundle)
Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment has announced the release of two documentaries for Blu-ray release within its Disneynature label: Oceans and The Crimson Wing: Mystery of the Flamingos. Both will be available as Blu-ray/DVD combo packs on October 19. For ...
The Crimson Wing: Mystery of the Flamingos Blu-ray Screenshots
