THE ISLAND OF THE GIANT MOTHERS

Carlos Pérez Romero / Spain / 52 minutes

Synopsis

An island in Africa. As part of its varied ecosystem: 40.000 giant turtles come and lay their eggs every season. Thousands of babies will have to cross the beach after hatching, in order to reach the sea.

If you are looking for a proper traditional wildlife-documentary, this one’s for you. The title may seem a little misleading since the turtles arc will actually be an episode amongst others, just as enjoyable to watch.

« The Island of the Giant Mothers » will indeed cover courtship displays, food gathering, survival techniques, and construction of habitats. The programme includes birds, insects, reptiles and rodents. Accompanied by an evocative soundtrack, the film spares no expense to show different specific animal species; many angles and close-ups make us admire the details of Nature’s fascinating beauty and functioning.

The pictures are good, and so is the thorough writing. Simple and convenient parallels allow transitions from one sequence to another (examples: turtle eggs vs. ant larvae / a predator becoming a prey…). Let’s highlight the script (Javier Ortega) and voice-over (Stephen Hughes), which are also main assets to follow these adorable creatures from Guinea-Bissau.

Conclusion

Classic, accessible and generous.

G.W.

« The Island of the Giant Mothers » joins official selection for the Little Croco Festival’s third edition, nominated in the Documentary category.

Trailer: