L'Aigle et l'Enfant

I have seen quite a few films dealing with the interaction between wildlife and man in the natural environment, and then I am not talking about wildlife documentaries, which seem to get better and better as new photographic techniques are developed. The classic 'Born Free' of 1966, and another film with African background, 'Duma' of 2005 come to mind. And then there is the excellent 'Entrelobos' ('Among Wolves') of 2011. Last night I watched another film in this genre, 'Wie Brüder im Wind' ('Brothers of the Wind'), and found that it compares well with others in this genre.

High in the spectacular Hohe Tauern part of the Austrian Alps, we see how a pair of golden eagles rears two chicks on a narrow rocky ledge, and as is typical with large birds of prey, the stronger of the two chicks forces the weaker one from the nest. The chance that the weaker chick would survive is rather slim, but it is in luck. Fortunately it has not fallen to its death; vegetation cushioned its fall and the bird landed safely on the ground at the foot of the cliff below the nest. Furthermore, shortly thereafter a boy, Lukas, (Manuel Camacho) finds the young bird before predators could get hold of it, and decides to rear it.

Through the narrator, a forester called Danzer (Jean Reno), we get to know Lukas, who lives high in the mountains with his father (Tobias Moretti). Quite early on it becomes clear that the relationship between Lukas and his father is strained; the lad does not speak to his dad, and more often than not hides away in a derelict house, where he lives in his own world. A sympathetic Danzer decides to help the boy and gives advice on how to rear the young raptor.

Can you build a film on such a slim narrative with only three main human characters? Well, after watching the movie, it is clear that you can successfully do so. The main emphasis of the film is on the life of the golden eagle, who against the odds and setbacks survives and grows into adulthood. The growing up of the eagle becomes a metaphor of the coming of age of Lukas, who also has obstacles to overcome.

The strong point of this film is without doubt the astonishing cinematography. The wildlife photography, particularly the action shots and the lingering landscape footage are literally breathtaking. The soundtrack is great too. The actors all do a fine job. Special mention must be made of Manuel Camacho, who seems to have a knack for excelling in wildlife films. He was justly nominated for a Goya Award, and won the Spanish Actors Newcomer Award for his acting in 'Entrelobos'.

I score this lovely film a high 8/10.

A beautiful coming of age nature film. The cinematography is superb, as is the acting.Take a few hours out of your day and emmerse yourself in this wonderous film.

Cinema has good films that tell a story between man and animal. Among them we can mention: Born Free (1966), Brother of the Wind (1973), The Black Stallion (1979), L'ours - The Bear (1988), Cheetah (1989), Fly Away Home (1996), Duma (2005), Eight Below (2006), Le Renard et L'infant - The Fox & The Child (2007), Life of Pi (2012) and The Jungle Book (2016). In Wie Brüder im Wind (original title) or Brothers of the Wind (English title), the story revolves around a child and a bird of prey, in 1960, in some place of the Austrian alps. In nature the eagle creates two chicks, and the strongest always ends up throwing the weakest out of the nest. Thus, after being pushed by the older chick out of the nest and fall to the forest floor, which would be a death sentence for the youngest chick, he is rescued by Lukas (acted by Manuel Camacho), which takes care of the wild animal in secret. With relationship problems with his father Keller (played by Tobias Moretti, known for Das Finstere Tal - The Dark Valley - 2014), the boy finds love and companionship in the bird, named Abel. But when the time comes to release the eagle back to nature will Abel be able to reintegrate himself to the wildlife and will Lukas find his own release for a new life?

The story is narrated by Jean Reno (known for Léon - The Professional - 1994), who plays the character Danzer, a forester who lives on site. The film is directed by Gerardo Olivares and Otmar Penker in a semi-documentary style. Its major highlights are photography, soundtrack and sound mixing. The images of the wildlife are breathtaking, especially the scenes made ​​with the eagle. The camera angles, including the mini camera installed on the eagle, enable the vision of all the landscape of the Austrian Alps, which is to behold. In that Brothers of the Wind does not lack anything when compared to the best documentaries about nature. The sound mixing gives realism to the narrated story, immersing the viewer in the animal life.

The weak point of the film that ends up compromising the movie's final result is the script. It focuses too much on the melodrama of the boy 's relationship with his father. While the scenes of wildlife are natural, family sequences are all artificial and forced. The writers trio (Otmar Penker, Joanne Reay and Gerald Salmina) errs in trying to turn the eagle struggle to survive into something bigger, making a link in Lukas and Abel's story. The directors and writers should have focused only on the nature and eagle majesty, who is the great protagonist of the narrated story.

This Austria/Spain co-production film is set in the Sixties, Austrian Alps, a marvelous place to dream, dealing with the unusual bond between a teen and an eagle since it was a chick . At the mountains lives Lukas : Manuel Camacho, who is mistreated by his father : Tobias Moretti, but he has a strong relationship with a forester, the great and popular actor Jean Reno. In a world where it takes courage to fly, an aegle is thrown the nest out by its oldest brother, called Cain, falling on the ground. One day, Lukas meets the wounded eagle and heals it. As Lukas nurtures the baby eagle, - that he names Abel- from childhood to adulthood and both have an emotional connection . As days go by, he realizes about the eagle wants to fly on its own. Both of them bond about their desires to be free. Along the way Lukas learns about nature.

This is a charming film containing adventure, emotion, sense of wonder, great sensibility and wonderful outdoors. A provoking and interesting movie, it is both, semi-documentary and drama, including colourful, beautiful, glimmer scenarios . There is an enjoyable portrayal of a young boy intenting to make his own way and only accompanied by an eagle in wilderness. Furthermore, it provides an intense and thunderous drama between a daddy and his son, but at the end both of whom learn about the mutual feeling and pardon . Narrated by Jean Reno who also plays a Forest Ranger, the film has an exceptional camerawork, 17 real eagles were used, and utilizing a titanium camera over an eagle that has been subsequently copied by other photographers . Being a hard and very complicated shooting for 4 years in the Dolomits mountains and other locations. The short cast, Manuel Campuzano, Tobias Moretti , Jean Reno, keep the movie interesting and attractive. Children especially and adults can learn lessons of ecology , wildlife, self-reliance, freedom and interdependence from the movie. In addition, to enjoy drama, adventure, emotion and overwhelming outdoors.

It displays a phantastic and gorgeous cinematography by Oscar Duran and Otmar Penker. Shot on location in Dolomitas Alps, Austrian Tirol, National Park Hohe Tauern, Corinthia, Austria, Tirol, Italy, Passo di Falzarego, Belluto, Beneto, Italy. As well as a sensitive and rousing musical score from Rebecca Ferguson, Jared Rogers , Kingdom Creators and Sarah Class. The motion picture was well directed by Otmar Penker and Gerardo Olivares . It was winner Austria Romy Gala Award to best cinematography : Otmar Penker and Oscar Duran. Otmar Penker is a good Austrian documentalist who also produced and wrote the superflous script based on an original idea by Gerald Salmina. While Gerardo Olivares is an excellent filmmaker who has collaborated with TVE, National Geographic and Discovery Channel. Since 2006 Olivares changes documentaries for fiction movies and he will be well known for La gran Final 2006, 14 kilometros 2007 , Entre Lobos 2010 starred by Manuel Camacho , The Lighthouse of the whales 2015 and 4 Latas 2017 performed by Jean Reno. In his life he has been in more than 100 countries and shot over than 80 documentaries. All this has been collected in his documentaries sold all over the world for the most important television channels. The picture will appeal to lovers of nature and animals . Well worth watching for its ecological message and msrvellous wildlife.

It was almost like a fairy tale, about the relationship between a young boy and a bird. From Austria, but made in English language with the limited cast and a semi-documentary style film. It is a very similar theme to the French film 'The Fox & the Child', but sets in a different scenario. Get prepared to witness the stunning Austrian Alps valley with a story of where man meets the wild. A fine entertaining film, as well as to study the behaviour of this magnificent bird that targeted for the audiences of all ages.

A simple story that sets in one summer of the 60s, that narrated by Jean Reno, who appeared as a forester. He recalls the story of a boy named Lukas, who developed an unusual bond with an eagle since it was a chick that fell from its nest. The boy named the bird Abel and stood by his side providing all needs like foods and training, till he become an adult. As a wild animal, his instinct urge him to act differently and so the Luka's love and care for Abel will gets difficult by every day. As the seasons change, time to define their actual relationship and that's what the film beautifully narrated.

It was mostly the background narration like an episode telecasted in a nature channel than the film characters that delivers the lines, but overall the film was dominated by an awesome background score. The sound mixing was really great, along with the breathtaking photography, especially all the segment with the bird, landscapes and other animals. The camera angles were absolutely superb and the film unfolds some of the things that we haven't seen in the documentaries like the topics of conservation, poaching and other human activities, especially the take of wild Apls in the different seasons.

"To learn takes courage. And to teach, patience of a mother."

The boy was terrific, and so those shots with the animals, especially Abel in the different stages of his life. A great effort put by the crew to make such an incredible film in the unfriendly locations, mainly the animal trainers and the proper guidance from the wild/nature experts. One of the jaw-dropping scene was the face-off between the bird and the ibex. I don't know how it was done or taken an unused clip from nature film, but its addition brought the phenomenal effect to the film. Not all the sequences were lively captured, there are some CGI works too, but very well done that blends accurately.

Besides the boy's friendship with the bird was like any kid who love to have one. So envious. In other side, his conflict with his father is what pushed him to get nearer to the Abel. Somewhat it relates, both, Abel and Lukas are in a same situation in their respective lives and tells how they together fight to break free from it. In the end it very clearly differentiates where everyone belong and their role in the mother nature.

The story is not what you're going love, but the way it was narrated, mainly the technical brilliance makes us fall in love with it. A coming-of-age film, definitely a very rare kind with a quality narration. Medium pace, but very intense and surely can beat Disney nature films. For children, it is a must see, but for adults, it is not necessarily a must see and if you think that way, you are missing out some masterpiece of the nature's video portrait. You don't have to adore it or go after the flaws, just relax and enjoy it, that's it works.

7/10