March of the Penguins

March of the Penguins showcases the perilous journey that emperor penguins make in their quest to raise their young. Many viewers identify with the penguins as they watch some mourn the loss of their chicks while others struggle to survive the harsh conditions.

Cinematographers Laurent Chalet and Jérôme Maison spent a year isolated in Antarctica observing and recording penguins on their journey to raise their chicks. During the mating season, the penguins pair off into monogamous couples. These couples then dedicate significant time and resources to nourishing their chick.

March of the Penguins demonstrates how arduous the process of raising young is for emperor penguins. For instance, male penguins lose up to half of their body weight as the females make the initial 62-mile journey to open water in order to feed. The film illustrates the difficulty of sustaining life by contrasting it with threats such as northern giant petrels, fierce storms, exhaustion, starvation, and leopard seals.