Brothers of the Wind

There are quite a few kid/animal stories out there; what sets this one apart is the incredibly good cinematography. We're not talking wolves, dogs or whatever here, we're talking golden eagles and they're not easy to film - so what we DO see on screen here is absolutely stunning (and I'm a fan of nature docs). They even managed to mount miniaturised HD cameras on an eagle to capture some flight imagery ... there are some truly memorable scenes in this movie, among them a very intense, drawn-out scene where the young eagle tries his talons at a mountain-goat maybe one or two sizes too big for him. The winter scenes are haunting in their intensity, too.

But the movie as a whole gets only 7/10 from me - they tried to pep up the images with a story about a boy helping the young eagle to survive. Now I don't think the idea absurd - in fact a simple framing story might be a nice idea - but they put too much weigth on this story. The emotional struggles between father and son simply don't stand a chance against the for-life struggle of the animals, and so every scene we spend with the humans is - in my opinion - a scene wasted. No fault with the actors, btw - experienced acting as expected by veterans Moretti and Reno, and the boy was good, too - but it's not their movie. It's the eagle's.

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.

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

This movie should be shown to every learner of movie making just for its brilliant camera use. This is a slow paced, documentary styled movie about the bonding between a young boy and an eagle. Simultaneously it tells other stories, too. However, from cinematic point of view, this is not a great movie and it does not even intend to do so. Its rather a sincere tale of human-wildlife bonding with a strong message in the end. The use of camera as I have already mentioned is breathtaking. The wide angle shots at the Alps are mesmerizing. Overall a nice movie to enjoy with your kids. Such movies normally become emotional tearjerkers which this one cleverly avoids. Overall a sincere movie deserving 75% marks. I

Fantastic movie about a boy and a bird (the feathered kind: an eagle), which contrasts the relationship of boy and dad. Just amazing what one can do with 3 actors, and a couple of birds, interspersed with some breathtaking scenery of the Austrian alps, in winter, spring and summer, and excellent photography (that would rival anything David Attenborogh did). Both boy and bird are struggling to cope with their surroundings and survive. The boy saves (and rears) the bird when it falls (or more likely is kicked) out of it's nest, then has to cope with the reality of having to let it go free. The heart warming boy/animal relationship, is contrasted by the boy father tension, and we are carried through the storyline with an absorbing narration by Jean Reno. A refreshing change from the typical Hollywood movies of sex, violence, car chases and explosions.