It never ceases to amaze me the amount of footage that exists from the Shackleton expedition, and this is another well constructed illustration of just how perilous this journey was. Setting off from the UK just as the Great War was starting in Europe, acclaimed explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton took his ship, the “Endurance” and a hardened crew south towards Antarctica. They begin to encounter the pack ice with over 400 miles yet to go, and as they become deeply embedded in the frozen wastes their ship falls foul to it’s icy might. It’s at this point that their journey turns from one of exploration to one of survival as they must attempt to find their way back onto the shipping lanes, or better yet - to land. The story is fact so we all know what actually happened, what makes this stand out is the use of some astonishingly well preserved archive. Coupled with some insightful interviews from relatives of some of the crew, this paints a genuinely chilly picture of a terrain hostile to all but penguins and seals. A voyage reminiscent of that taken by the mutinied Captain Bligh through high seas, snow storms and hurricane-force winds is captured using photography, diary entries and some actuality as these men face the worst that the elements can throw at them with no hope at all of help finding them. This also serves as an interesting reminder of just how bleak and barren (for people) this part of the planet was a mere century ago, and it does make you wonder in awe at the courage and perseverance of these men armed only with a few fur sleeping bags, harpoons, with everything else made of wood and them only bearing what they could physically carry themselves. There’s a lot to be said for the audio here, too - the whistling, howling wind and the breaking waves also add to the sense of danger, yes, but also of fortitude and bravery. It makes you reach for a jumper when you watch it, too!
As U.S. troops storm the beaches of Normandy, three brothers lie dead on the battlefield, with a fourth trapped behind enemy lines. Ranger captain John Miller and seven men are tasked with penetrating German-held territory and bringing the boy home.
Every year, thousands of Antarctica's emperor penguins make an astonishing journey to breed their young. They walk, marching day and night in single file 70 miles into the darkest, driest and coldest continent on Earth. This amazing, true-life tale is touched with humour and alive with thrills. Breathtaking photography captures the transcendent beauty and staggering drama of devoted parent penguins who, in the fierce polar winter, take turns guarding their egg and trekking to the ocean in search of food. Predators hunt them, storms lash them. But the safety of their adorable chicks makes it all worthwhile. So follow the leader... to adventure!!
OF A LIFETIME is a celebration of discovery, adventure, and the passing of the torch to the next generation against the breathtaking backdrop of Antarctica. It chronicles the renowned De Le Rue family’s journey as Xavier, Victor, and 18-year-old Mila sail across the Drake Passage to ride the unimaginably steep icy lines of the white continent. Mila’s initiation into big mountain free riding is captured through personal diaries, showcasing her growth as she faces her fears and embraces the challenge. A film by Jérôme Tanon
In December 2025, the extraordinary artist Hildegard Knef would have celebrated her 100th birthday. Her life was shaped by numerous talents, an unshakeable will to succeed and the ability to keep pushing herself forward. This documentary sheds light on the life of the legendary actress and singer.
Three Frenchmen go out on their first polar expedition to the largest polar desert in the world. Sarek, in the north of Sweden.
A documentary that brings to light the vision that director George A. Romero had for an adaptation of Resident Evil, using newly filmed interviews with those who were there, and unravels the secrets behind why it was never produced.
A close examination of the Whakaari / White Island volcanic eruption of 2019 in which 22 lives were lost, the film viscerally recounts a day when ordinary people were called upon to do extraordinary things, placing this tragic event within the larger context of nature, resilience, and the power of our shared humanity.
Arctic Tale is a 2007 documentary film from the National Geographic Society about the life cycle of a walrus and her calf, and a polar bear and her cubs, in a similar vein to the 2005 hit production March of the Penguins, also from National Geographic.
Torn by personal guilt, Italian General Umberto Nobile reminisces about his 1928 failed Arctic expedition aboard the airship Italia.
Does doctor Jan Terelak belong to an “elitist” group of the most unethical experimenters? The Polish scientist tested boundaries of human mental resilience in extreme conditions of solitude in Antarctica. The starting point for Piotr Jaworski's documentary is the psychologist's journal. The project from forty years ago was focused on studying the mental condition of polar explorers at the Polish station. Men were in the situation of confinement, comparable to a space mission. The film reconstructs these events, referring to the then contemporary context and changes in the perception of science.
In this spoof of "March of the Penguins," nature footage of penguins near the South Pole gets a soundtrack of human voices. Carl and Jimmy, best friends, walk 70 miles to the mating grounds where the female penguins wait. The huddled masses of females - especially Melissa and Vicki - talk about males, mating, and what might happen this year. Carl, Jimmy, and the other males make the long trek talking about food, fornication and flatulence. Until this year, Carl's sex life has been dismal, but he falls hard for Melissa. She seems to like him. A crisis develops when Jimmy comes upon something soft in the dark. Can friends forgive? Does parenthood await Carl and Melissa?