an extraordinary dive into the daily life of whales

This Wednesday, February 22, the immersive and poetic documentary on whales, The Guardians of the Planet, hits theaters. Directed by Jean-Albert Lièvre and carried by the voice of Jean Dujardin, the film takes us to meet these mammals present on our planet for more than 50 million years. With spectacular images and a soundtrack as varied as the different songs of the whales, we are quickly seduced by these exceptionally intelligent animals.

After five years of work, director Jean-Albert Lièvre (director of the show Ushuaia and documentary Flora) is proud of the work accomplished. “I’ve wanted to make a film about whales for a long time, since the first time I swam with them, over 30 years ago. It was so incredible that I really wanted to share this emotion in the cinema“, he tells us. The director was also inspired by the poem Whale Nationa true ode to whales, by Heathcote Williams.

Filming listening to whales

With filming during the health crisis, the film crew took advantage of calm seas off Mexico or Greenland. “It was both a problem and an opportunity, a problem because there were several destinations that were completely closed. But where we were able to go, we were almost alone on the water, no tourists, no boats and above all no noise”says Jean-Albert Lièvre.

To be sure to find whales, the director went looking for them during the reproduction or feeding periods during which they are found in very specific areas. “We worked with local teams and spotters. They are strong people in apnea who go spot the whales for us”, he explains. The film crew also had to be patient. Psometimes, for a whole week, no whale has peeked out and “other times it only takes an hour, something crazy happens and you take the most magical shots“, adds the director.

Protecting whales is protecting us

Beyond everything we learn about this marine mammal, the documentary allows us to take a step back from our own existence and invites us to reconnect with nature. “Humans on earth have learned to master our environment, sometimes by destroying it to adapt it to our needs. The whales have used their intelligence to live in harmony by adapting to the environment.” explains Jean-Albert Lièvre.

Capable of storing up to 33 tons of carbon dioxide, whales play an essential role in the preservation of our planet. An ecological message that the director wants to convey “by sweetness and emotion. I think it’s much more effective only by lesson. It’s an optimistic message that comes from the whales“, he concludes.

The sheet

Gender : Documentary, Family
Director: Jean-Albert Lievre
Narrator: Jean Dujardin
Country : France
Duration : 1h22
Exit : February 22, 2023
Distributer : Pan Distribution

Summary:

A humpback whale has washed up on a remote shore. As a group of men and women organize their rescue, we discover the extraordinary story of cetaceans, citizens of the world’s oceans, essential to the ecosystem of our planet for more than 50 million years.