Synopsis

Each year, emperor penguins leave the Antarctic sea and trek across the frozen continent to their breeding grounds. After pairing, the females lay a single egg and return to the ocean, leaving the males to protect and incubate it through the polar winter. The film follows their struggle against cold, hunger, predators, and exhaustion until the parents and chicks can reunite with the sea.

Factoids & Trivia

• The film was produced in 2004 and released theatrically in France on January 26, 2005.

• The French version uses several voices and presents the penguins' experiences in a more personal, first-person style. The American release uses a single third-person narration.

• The American version also replaces Emilie Simon's French soundtrack with an orchestral score by Alex Wurman and runs approximately four minutes shorter.

• Filming took place in Terre Adelie, Antarctica, with cinematography by Laurent Chalet and Jerome Maison.

• The end credits include behind-the-scenes footage showing the crew dragging equipment across the ice and working among the penguins.

• The film won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature at the 78th Academy Awards in 2006.

• Its success helped make wildlife documentaries a major theatrical draw in the United States, where the English-language release earned more than $77 million.