March of the Penguins

                 In this week’s journal, we are going to know about one of the types of film that is not as usual as what we seen before – Documentary films. To achieve the goal of the paper, which is know more about documentaries, the movie film March of the Penguins will be explained as an example later.

:::DOCUMENTARIES:::

                    Based on what audiences think of documentary films (assumptions), filmed events are not staged. This is because mise-en-scene are particularly put together like fiction films. Therefore the filmed events provide an authentic look. Documentaries are also assumed as non-fiction films, thus they depict not imaginary but real events. Usually, fiction films provide imaginative impressions while documentaries are very truthful. Also, documentaries filmmakers are assumed to observe the events and make objective record of the events. Recent times, the above mentioned assumptions are criticised heavily. This is mostly influenced by the selection of techniques, equipment, footage, angles and other technical decisions; thus it makes documentary lose its objective appeal. According to what Bill Nichols said, we should look at documentaries via the particular techniques selected by filmmakers when they record or shape the events. We should also know about the different modes of representation for documentaries. The six modes for representing documentaries are: Poetic, Expository, Observational, Interactive, Reflexive and Performative.  In this journal, I would like to brief about the first three representations, while the other three will be briefed in the next journal. 

1)      Poetic
Based on Bill Nichols’, the poetic mode is particularly adept at opening up the possibility of alternative forms of knowledge to the straightforward transfer of information, the prosecution of a particular argument or point of view, or the presentation of reasoned propositions about problems in need of solution. He stated that this mode stresses mode, tone and affect much more than displays of knowledge or acts of persuasion. On the other hand, the rhetorical element remains underdeveloped. Began in the modernism era, it is a way of representing reality via series of fragmented visuals and subjective impressions, incoherent acts and loose associations. Films of this mode breaks up time and space into multiple perspectives, denying the coherence and accepting the unconscious, this mode stresses on fragmentation and chooses ambiguity as a prominent feature.

2)      Expository
“Voice-of-God commentary and poetic perspectives sought to disclose information about the historical world itself and to see that world afresh, even if these views came to seem romantic and didactic” said Bill Nichols. The mode Expository is a disembodied and authoritative voiceover that is combined with a series of imageries, and it all aimed at being descriptive and informative. Films of this mode address audience directly, providing visible information in the imagery and unseen information in the voiceover. Expository is also a classic mode, and is now common in TV documentaries. Overall effect of this mode is objectivity, a direct and transparent representation.

3)    Observational

      Again from Bill Nichols, he stated, “An observational mode of representation allowed the filmmaker to record unobtrusively what people did when they were not explicitly addressing the camera…But the observational mode limited the filmmaker to the present moment and required a disciplined detachment from the events themselves.” According to Observational mode, there is no apparent intervention by the filmmaker in the filmed events: such as no voice-of-god voiceover, no intertitles and no interviews. Films of this mode observe and record as the events unfold in real time, resulting in long takes and sound is recorded directly, establishing an intimate relationship with and a sense of the environment without manipulating and distorting the event, thus there are no dramatic nor unusual moments; making films of this mode significantly known as direct cinema. Overall effect is a neutral and non-judgemental appeal. 

Now, I would like to talk about the movie film March of the Penguins. March of the Penguins is a 2005 French nature documentary, directed and co-written by Luc Jacquet, and co-produced by Bonne Pioche and the National Geographic Society.

:::SYNOPSIS::: 

In the documentary March of the Penguins, it depicts the journey of the emperor penguins in Antarctica. The penguins first started with having courtship. If the courtship is successful, it will be results in hatching a chick. Firstly, the mother hatch the egg, and when it lays the egg then she transfer it to the father’s feet for incubation. For the survival of the chick, both the parents must take multiple journeys between the ocean and the breeding grounds over months, with the difficulties that had to be faced.

:::ANALYSIS:::

There are two modes of representation of documentaries that can be found in this documentary. The first mode will be Observational. We can find out that in March of the Penguins, there is no apparent intervention, no interference, no edits, and with available lights. The scenes are also recorded unobtrusively. 

Another than that, Expository mode for representing documentary is also seen. The filmmaker tried to make this film in an objective way. Moreover, disembodied and authoritative voiceover, which is the Voice of God, is combined with series of imageries, all aimed at being descriptive and informative. The tone of way, way of describing and scenes in March of the Penguins are presented in a “romantic” way. For elaboration, it gives interpretation about that specific place and reveals a part of the world.

:::CONCLUSION:::

As a conclusion, through the March of the Penguins, we can observed the elements used from modes for representing documentaries: Poetic, Expository, Observational, Interactive, Reflexive and Performative. In my point of opinion, I personally think that this documentary transmits the reality of penguins’, from how they began courtship to the independence of the chicks. It also shows how the strength of family love can be maintained and be touched, like how the way the penguin parents suffer from dangerous adventure, death and starve just to raise their chick.