In "The wild city", the camera follows a large, well-fed housecat as it walks lazily through the Dutch city of Amsterdam. Along the way, the viewer meets the animals and animal species surviving, indeed thriving within this most urban of urban environments : pigeons, rats, foxes, gulls and so on. The viewer also discovers the fine old city of Amsterdam, in all its varied glory.
Now this is a visually beautiful movie on an interesting subject. Many of the images are as riveting as any work of fiction : will these tiny ducklings make it safely to a pond, of will they end up in the mouth of a domestic cat ? It is clear that the movie is built upon a mountain of patient observation, both scientific and artistic.
Although not a preachy screed, "The wild city" also indicts the wasteful ways of that aggressive loudmouth known as homo sapiens, who is thinks he is lord and master of all he surveys. Just watch the amounts of waste and litter left in the wake of celebrations : there can't be too many species on Earth which treat the planet which such disdain.
People who can read Dutch and who are interested in the spread of exotic invasive species, might want to Google "Halsbandparkiet (Psittacula krameri)" and "Meli" for a description of a Belgian case. It's one of those stories which invite both tears and laughter.
Unfortunately the comments by the narrator were a bit too jolly and folksy and childish for my taste. A more adult tone would have been better. Still, nothing new under the sun : several decades ago, the Dutch writer Godfried Bomans complained about the fact that many of the most stunning and valuable nature documentaries were being marred by relentlessly jolly comments...
Now this is a visually beautiful movie on an interesting subject. Many of the images are as riveting as any work of fiction : will these tiny ducklings make it safely to a pond, of will they end up in the mouth of a domestic cat ? It is clear that the movie is built upon a mountain of patient observation, both scientific and artistic.
Although not a preachy screed, "The wild city" also indicts the wasteful ways of that aggressive loudmouth known as homo sapiens, who is thinks he is lord and master of all he surveys. Just watch the amounts of waste and litter left in the wake of celebrations : there can't be too many species on Earth which treat the planet which such disdain.
People who can read Dutch and who are interested in the spread of exotic invasive species, might want to Google "Halsbandparkiet (Psittacula krameri)" and "Meli" for a description of a Belgian case. It's one of those stories which invite both tears and laughter.
Unfortunately the comments by the narrator were a bit too jolly and folksy and childish for my taste. A more adult tone would have been better. Still, nothing new under the sun : several decades ago, the Dutch writer Godfried Bomans complained about the fact that many of the most stunning and valuable nature documentaries were being marred by relentlessly jolly comments...
