'March' to see nature at its most dramatic
"March of the Penguins," the most successful nature documentary ever produced, will be shown on the giant screen at the O'Shaughnessy Center in Whitefish on Sept. 9-11.
"March of the Penguins" was made for less than $1 million and topped $37 million in total revenue after eight weeks. In mid-August, it was at No. 2 on the all-time documentary list, between Michael Moore's "Bowling for Columbine" at No. 3 and "Fahrenheit 9/11."
This film, set in the harsh and majestic landscape of Antarctica, follows the emperor penguins as they embark on their unique mating cycle.
Free from predators, hundreds of penguins emerge from the frigid waters to march for miles across polar ice and snow toward their traditional breeding grounds.
The courtship rituals give way to the miracle of birth as the female emperor lays just one egg, which is tended to by its father. While the mother returns to the sea to feed, the father balances the precious egg on the top of his feet. For as long as 120 days the fathers go without food, huddled together, mindful of the precious cargo they carry. One mistake and all is lost.
Director Luc Jacquet and his crew spent 13 months in the frigid Antarctic to film this story. The resulting movie is absolutely breathtaking.
"Director Luc Jacquet and his team have done an incredible job gaining the trust of these penguins and recording their tortuous migration. Some of the shots - such as a mother tenderly passing her unhatched egg to her mate to keep it warm before she goes for food, and the undersea shots of feeding taken from a small submersible - are jaw-dropping.
Just as poetic are the sweeping vistas of ice, with long lines of penguins in the distance inching forward, looking like ants. 'March of the Penguins' is in a way an epic adventure film with a cast of thousands - and narrated, as if he were the voice of God, by Morgan Freeman (and let me be the first to lobby for legislation that Freeman narrate all documentaries from now on; I'm phoning my congressman today)." - G. Allen Johnson, San Francisco Chronicle
The film shows at 8 p.m. on Sept. 9, and noon, 2, 4 and 8 p.m. on Sept. 10-11.
Tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for students and go on sale at the box office one hour before showtime.
This film is rated G for general audiences.
For more information call 862-5371 or visit whitefishtheatreco.org
A benefit dessert reception for the Glacier Institute begins prior to the Sept. 9 showing of "March of the Penguins" at 6 p.m. at the O'Shaughnessy Center.
The reception ticket price is $17 in advance for adults and $10 for children, and includes admission and priority seating to the 8 p.m. premiere.
The ticket price to the benefit includes a donation to The Glacier Institute's Big Creek Discovery School program for children. The Glacier Institute serves adults and children as an educational leader in the Crown of the Continent Ecosystem with Glacier National Park at its center.
Purchase tickets for the premiere screening and benefit dessert reception in advance and receive priority seating for the film by calling The Glacier Institute at 755-1211 or go online at www.glacierinstitute.org