A feature length nature documentary from BBC Earth, One Life is right up there with the best that the Beeb can do and features some absolutely stunning cinematography (both on a grandiose scale and down to a microscopic level) to provide a fantastic reminder of just what connects every single one of us, human or beast or even plant, on this great big ball of chemicals called Earth.
While it doesn’t really have any main story strand or narrative to link everything onscreen, One Life manages to hop between numerous species and habitats in a way that provides constant variety and yet remains linked to everything around it simply by reflecting certain behaviours and natures that exist everywhere.
Protecting the young, maintaining a hierarchy, avoiding becoming part of the food chain, finding a mate, hunting prey, adapting to environments that become part of your life – all of these things and more are given a look in this wonderful film.
You’ll find out plenty of interesting titbits en route, like the ironic fact that grasscutter ants can’t eat grass (to name just one), and see some sights that you’ll not have seen anywhere else. The natural beauty of each environment is so stunningly caught on camera that it almost feels like super-duper CGI. Because, as we can so often forget, nature can always provide the best special effects of all. For free.
The narration by Daniel Craig is enjoyable and humorous, especially in the juxtaposition of certain images with certain portions of the dialogue, and while there were moments that seemed to unnecessarily hammer some points home (I do wish that animal documentaries would sometimes manage to refrain from humanising animals and putting our social ideals on top of their natural family units) I really enjoyed most of the information and opinion offered.
Michael Gunton and Martha Holmes get the credit for both writing and directing this thing together but this is a team effort, from the camera operators to the sound editors to the animals themselves.
There wasn’t one dull moment here but I don’t really want to cover each subsection in any more detail because part of the joy in watching this documentary is derived from learning some new facts and seeing things from a unique perspective. Fans of Life On Earth and The Blue Planet and every other excellent BBC nature programme will surely love this.
One Life comes out in an attractive 2-disc DVD package here in the UK on Monday 21st November. There’s an informative and amusing commentary track, an 18 minute “making of…”, numerous interviews, a look at the recording of the music (just a 3 minute piece) and plenty of bonus snippets that include, clips, sound bites, extra shots and location footage. The majestic trailer is also included. It’s a great package for those who enjoy the main feature.
WRITER/DIRECTOR: MICHAEL GUNTON, MARTHA HOLMES
CAST: DANIEL CRAIG (NARRATION)
RUNTIME: 85 MINS APPROX
COUNTRY: UK
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