Synopsis

Each Antarctic winter, emperor penguins leave the ocean and march across the ice to their traditional breeding grounds. There, they pair, lay a single egg, and endure months of darkness, cold, hunger, and separation from the sea. The documentary follows their demanding breeding cycle as the parents take turns protecting the egg and finding food for their chick.

Factoids & Trivia

• The film was shot in Terre Adelie, Antarctica, near the Dumont d'Urville research station. The crew spent more than 13 months in the region to follow the penguins through an entire breeding season.

• The filmmakers had to remain ready for the colony's arrival because the exact gathering date could not be predicted. During the shoot, more than 1,200 emperor penguins assembled at the location.

• The French version uses a pop-oriented score by Emilie Simon. For the United States release, the music was replaced with an orchestral score, and the narration and editing were adapted for American audiences.

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

• Made on an estimated $8 million budget, the film became an unusually successful theatrical documentary, earning more than $127 million worldwide.

• Its original French title, "La Marche de l'empereur," is translated as "The Emperor's March." The film was released in English-speaking markets as "March of the Penguins" and in Germany as "Die Reise der Pinguine."