I had a
feeling.
He looked different. He said very little. He
watched the audience. He appreciated our
enthusiasm and smiled when we laughed.
I had a feeling that during my world premiere
screening of Wolfgang Bayer's "Earthling" that I
may, in fact, be sitting next to the filmmaker
himself. Everyone knew that Bayer may avail
himself for a Q&A session after the film, but
nobody really expected much as we were seeing
his film only because the originally scheduled
film had a technical problem that prevented its
screening. Thus, instead of "A Bear Named
Winnie," a live action film based upon the story
behind "Winnie the Pooh," we were going to get a
documentary based upon the work of Emmy winning
documentarian Wolfgang Bayer and his final
journey in filmmaking.
"Earthling" features, perhaps, the most stellar
cinematography ever captured on film of our
animal planet. The story began when Bayer went
into cardiac arrest while filming with his son
Tristan in Yellowstone National Park. "Gone" for
7 minutes, he somehow survived and yet knew that
his days of such strenuous filmmaking were
coming to an end. He began a journey that would
take him around the world YET this journey is
different. This time, he shares the journey with
his family.
Tristan, his son, has often shared his father's
journeys and clearly most embraces the vision.
He dreams of following in his father's footsteps
and is clearly at home among the wild.
Candice, his wife, serves as perhaps the truest
companion in her quiet faithfulness and loyalty
to this calling of her life partner. I have long
believed that the truest life companions will
follow you to the ends of the Earth. Candice,
quite clearly, follows Wolfgang to the ends of
the Earth and, seemingly, beyond.
Finally, there's Malaika (Swahili for "Angel"),
his daughter. Malaika is a university student
with more of a business mind, yet it is her
scenes that have stayed with me the longest. She
undoubtedly respects and loves her father's
vision and journey, yet she is also forging her
own path. During THIS journey, however, her love
of family takes precedence over her own agenda.
I often times find myself hesitant to drive an
hour to go visit my parents, and yet as I
watched Malaika surprise her family by returning
to their journey from college while they were in
the midst of isolated, polar bear country I
couldn't help but think to myself "This is what
family is all about."
Bayer and his son are both stellar
cinematographers, filming both the remarkably
dramatic and the simplest beauty with
authenticity, innocence and a deep, deep respect
for the creatures they encounter. One can't help
but chuckle as they film polar bears when
Tristan notes "I have to keep reminding myself
that an animal that appears so cuddly wouldn't
hesitate to rip my arm off given the
opportunity."
These sorts of insights, done with a slight
chuckle and yet with a tone indicating their
truthfulness, add a humanity to the film that is
often lacking in "nature films," though I
hesitate to say nature film because "Earthling"
is much more about the family living in the
middle of nature than it is about the animals
themselves. The Bayer's are clearly in touch
with the privilege of being among these animals
AND they stay long enough in their environment
to build relationships NOT just photograph them.
Indeed, Tristan notes as the family is among
monkeys in the jungle that the monkeys have
learned to "trust us" and so they welcome the
Bayer's into their world with an innocence and
playfulness that is wondrous to see.
Also captured on film are journeys among
butterflies, manta rays and other unique
creates. Bayer shared during his Q&A session
that he wanted to share the uniqueness of
nature, and while they certainly encountered
many "common" animals it was his vision to share
the unique, often untouched aspects of nature.
"Earthling" took six years to make and,
according to Bayer, is his last film even though
he has unexpectedly survived his heart
condition. Perhaps it is the reverence for this
final journey with their father, but "Earthling"
feels often like a sacred, yet playful
experience. It continues to be edited, and Bayer
states it will be trimmed further for national
release...a good move as it does feel a tad long
and its often hypnotic tone will become
monotonous for children.
Stellar cinematography aside, "Earthling" is
plagued by a couple issues that keep me from
rating it in the "A" range. Bayer has
inexplicably used a music score (and occasional
soundtrack) that often distracts from the
innocence and power of the scenes being played
out onscreen.
Likewise, the film is narrated by Tristan. While
a stellar cinematographer and a strong screen
presence Tristan is hindered by (or perhaps
instructed to use) a monotonous voice tone that
begins to sound like one of those meditation
self-improvement tapes. Finally, there are times
when the film itself feels "forced"...like the
importance of the journey is being stressed,
time and time again, so that the audience will
realize THIS is an important scene. The
photography is stunningly beautiful, but at
times feels a touch too staged and loses its
impact.
The journey is remarkable, the photography is
utterly stellar and the lessons poignant and
powerful. "Earthling", a swansong for filmmaker
Wolfgang Bayer, allows the audience to companion
Bayer on this, his final journey, and to watch
the quiet tenderness of a father handing off his
lifelong vision to his able and ready son.
"Earthling" is about you, and I, living in a
world where ALL creatures, great and small, are
respected, embraced and celebrated.
©
Written by Richard Propes
TC Candler's Comment
n/a
Jacob
Hall's Comment
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