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The Crimson Wing Review
Even before the phenomenal success of The March of The Penguins, this documentary about the plight of the Flamingos was being planned.
The Crimson Wing is the first feature film from Disneynature, Walt Disney Studio’s new label dedicated to producing one-off projects that will ‘tell the stories of nature’. Each year it will be churning out a nature film for theatrical release, and its first focus is flamingos.
After the success of The March of the Penguins, it’s no wonder that Disney has gone down this route of nature documentaries in order to open viewers’ eyes to the world of natural beauty. And that’s certainly the first word that comes to mind when describing The Crimson Wing; it’s 77 minutes of startling, crystal clear beauty, directed by two Brits, first-timers Matthew Aeberhard and Leander Ward.
Mariella Frostrup provides the poetic narration that soothes and dramatises; it’s this narration that helps distinguish The Crimson Wing from the documentaries we’re used to watching on BBC2. This is a different beast; a nature film made for the big screen.
The Crimson Wing: Directed by Matthew Aeberhard & Leander Ward
This story takes place at Lake Natron in northern Tanzania, which provides a dramatic backdrop for these exotic birds. Each year, 80% of the world’s flamingos flock to Lake Natron to find a mate and hatch their offspring. The relationship between the flamingos and the lake is one of nature’s great mysteries. The flamingos know exactly when this salty lake has become diluted enough from rainfall to breathe new life into an otherwise desolate landscape.
The flamingos mating ritual has to be seen to be believed; the 1.5 million birds huddle together and prance around the lake carrying out movements so graceful it almost looks like it’s been choreographed.
It’s not all beauty and grace though; Aeberhard and Ward are keen to show the cruelness of nature. The ‘Marabou’ – a cross between a stork and a vulture in terms of looks -are deadly predators - killing baby flamingos purely for fun, swinging them around and throwing them to the ground. Added to this is the formation of ‘salt shackles’ that grow around the ankles of some chicks; making it impossible for them to walk, forcing them to be abandoned when the flock leave the lake for greener pastures.
When Frostrup’s narration begins using pronouns like ‘her’ and ‘she,’ suggesting that we are following one bird’s story, there is a shift that seems unnatural - especially as this is suddenly introduced halfway through the film. It makes sense that Melanie Finn - the film’s writer and Aeberhard’s wife - wanted to personalise this story but starting this late in the film only cause’s confusion,
All the same, Frostrup’s dulcet tones are made for this type of narration; simultaneously soothing and strong. Listening to her and watching this extraordinary journey of the flamingos is at times so relaxing it almost feels like meditation.
The Crimson Wing serves its purpose of educating viewers, and the closeness and quality of the filming continually impresses. While they may not be as exciting as the big cats of neighbouring Kenya, the flamingos’ story is so fascinating it’s a wonder it hasn’t made it to the big screen before.
The Crimson Wing Reviews
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