Antarctica: In the Footsteps of the Emperor

Luc Jacquet, who made March of the Penguins (VL-11/05) as well as the more recent Antarctica: Ice and Sky (VL-5/17), encouraged wildlife photographers Laurent Ballesta and Vincent Munier to join a French polar expedition in 2016 to film in the waters beneath the Antarctic ice. Filmmakers Jérôme Bouvier and Marianne Cramer’s Antarctica: In the Footsteps of the Emperor chronicles their adventure, incorporating extensive excerpts from footage they shot during 32 dangerous dives undertaken over 36 days. The range of exotic flora and fauna captured in stunning high-definition is extraordinary, including isopods and anemones, orange sea squirts, giant sea spiders, sea stars, feather hydroids, ice fish, and various species of octopus. The film also spotlights life atop the ice, particularly focusing on mature emperor penguins trekking to open water to get food for their chicks, as well as scenes of chicks being compelled to take their first dip (seals are also major performers here). Two shorter films accompany the main feature: Antarctica—Living on the Edge, and Antarctica’s Secrets. Both employ some footage from In the Footsteps of the Emperor, but also add substantial new material that reinforces the overall argument being made: climate change is taking a toll on the Antarctic as well as on the planet’s more temperate regions, endangering the survival of many of the species lovingly photographed here—including penguins. Recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (F. Swietek)