“The Messenger” is a visually thrilling documentary with an urgent message of why we should be aware of the depletion of the population of birds around the world. Â Recommended!
TITLE: The Messenger
FILM RELEASE: 2015
DURATION: 90 Minutes
BLU-RAY DISC INFORMATION: 1080p High Definition, 1:78:1 Original Aspect Ratio, English 5.1 DTS-HD MA
COMPANY: Kino Lorber
RATED: N/A
Release Date: March 3, 2016
Directed by Su Rynard
Story/Written by Su Rynard
Co-Written by Sally Blake
Executive Produced/Produced by Sally Blake, Martin de la Fouchardiere, Joanne Jackson, Su Rynard, Diane Woods
Music by Philip Strong
Cinematography by Amar Arhab, Laurent Charbonnier, Daniel Grant
Edited by Sally Blake, Carole Larsen, Eamonn O’Connor
For thousands of years, songbirds were regarded by mankind as messengers from the gods. Today, these creatures woven inextricably into the fabric of our environment are vanishing at an alarming rate. Under threat from climate change, pesticides and more, populations of hundreds of species have dipped dramatically. As scientists, activists and bird enthusiasts investigate this phenomenon, amazing secrets of the bird world come to light for the first time in the acclaimed and visually thrilling documentary The Messenger. Find out what s killing our songbirds, and what can be done about it. As in ancient times, songbirds may once again be carrying a message to humans one that we ignore at our own peril.
From director and writer Su Rynard comes her 2015 documentary film “The Messenger”.
A look at why the population of songbirds throughout the world are depleting and why this is problematic to humans and the world. And what some countries are trying to do to protect them.
And now “The Messenger” will be released on Blu-ray and DVD courtesy of Kino Lorber.
In “The Messenger”, Su Rynard shows our connection to birds and their uncertain fate might mirror our own.
Considering that birds are humankind’s early warning system, for thousands of years, humans have looked at birds to foretell the future. From the coming of storms, the change of season and more, from man-made structures, pesticides, trapping to even cats, have led to the depletion of the population of songbirds. Many birds who have become extinct since the 1960’s.
Featuring research that explores the Boreal Forest, the wetlands in Mount Ararat, the streets of New York City, Canada, France and more, we start to learn of how a mass depletion of songbirds on multiple continents are taking place and why it should be taken seriously.
VIDEO:
“The Messenger” is presented in 1080p High Definition (1:78:1 aspect ratio). Featuring video footage from multiple locatons throughout the world, picture quality is vibrant, featuring amazing detail but what is amazing is the use of technology in order to capture video and images of songbirds in flight, courtesy of the scientists at Western University’s unique Avian research facility, AFAR.
Despite a small crew using a Phantom camera and a series of prime lenses, the film crew were able to capture wonderful images of these songbirds.
AUDIO & SUBTITLES:
“The Messenger” is presented in English 5.1 DTS-HD. Dialogue is crystal clear, as the sounds of the bird and surrouding environments which were well-captured.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
“The Messenger” comes with the following special features:
- Behind-the-Scenes Featurette – (4:45) How the Messenger film crew were able to film the birds at Western University’s Advanced Facility for Avian Research.
- A Coffee Primer for Birds and People – (3:33) A connection with birds and coffee.
- Deleted Scene – (6:07) A deleted scene on checking out woodthrush nests and their eggs and trying to find out who the predators are and there dwindling population.
- Interview with Director Su Rynard – (8:49) An interview with director Su Rynard.
- Trailer – Theatrical trailer for “The Messenger”.
EXTRAS:
“The Messenger” comes a ten page booklet which includes information about the film, information from the director and the press the film has received.
Whether or not you appreciate birds or not, the dwindling population of various bird species is important to know and perhaps be aware of, in hopes to preserve the populations.
And for those who need to know why it is important, one can look back in the late ’50s.
What many may not be familiar with is “The Great Sparrow Campaign” that took place in China between 1958-1962, which was a goal to eliminate mosquitoes, flies, rats and sparrows.
The reason why the birds were eliminated was because the birds ate grain sees and it was thought that the birds were robbing from the people. So, sparrows and other birds were shot, eggs were broken, nestlings were killed and citizens kept banging pots and pans, drums in order to scare the birds from landing and they eventually died of exhaustion.
But by 1960, Chinese leaders realized that the birds were important because they ate the insects and unfortunately, the locust population grew increasingly and swarmed the country and helped in ushering the Great Chinese Famine, which would to 20 million people dying of starvation.
With Su Rynard’s “The Messenger”, her inspiration of creating the film was due to the dwindling of populations and not seeing or hearing the birds that was part of her childhood.
Her and the crew would research of why the songbirds have disappeared and the reasons were troubling but at the same time, we learn how much of the problem is manmade.
Many of us have seen birds head straight to the windows and die. Birds see the windows which reflect foliage and the sky and so they fly directly into it. Up to 1 billion birds die from window strikes in the US alone, can you imagine worldwide?
While some countries have taken action and using special windows, many countries have not done anything and so the problems of birth deaths continue.
Of course, with pesticides, many birds are dying because of the chemicals mixed in water and what they drink.
Another is cats, a predator of birds and while it is recommended to keep cats indoors, many of us know that owners simply don’t do it.
While Rynard and crew are able to showcase many reasons of why there are dwindling populations, some may be surprised of the death of ortolans. Birds that French have eaten for decades, but despite the French government enforcing ignored laws to protect the birds (ortolan hunting has been banned in France since 1999), many continue to hunt and eat them.
Many may also be surprised to find out the importance of birds their relation to coffee. With many areas using harmful pesticides to coffee that run into streams and rivers, billions of pounds of the noxious chemicals are injected into natural ecosystems that support wildlife and communities.
And so there are coffee companies who are taking a step forward with their coffee by showing a “Bird Friendly certification” as a prerequisite if they are going for organic certification.
So, by purchasing coffee with the bird friendly label or even requesting your supermarket to carry it, goes a long way in the preservation of birds.
The Blu-ray release of “The Messenger” is vibrant with great detail. Lossless audio of dialogue, bird sounds and ambiance was crystal clear. But I was impressed with how the film crew captured the birds in flight. Working with Western University’s Avian research facility, AFAR, Rynard and crew were able to capture these songbirds in flight with efficacy. There was great care in making sure how these birds were filmed and it’s good to see this in the special features.
If there is one thing that I’m proud of “The Messenger” is that it builds awareness and how one can make a difference.
It’s important to note that Rynard also shows the other side to the equation, for example, why there are those who capture ortolans and eat them. And why there are those who risk their lives to stop these hunters.
If anything, the documentary does a great job of delivering an urgent message to viewers and one can hope that many will learn from the film and take action.
Overall, “The Messenger” is a visually thrilling documentary with an urgent message of why we should be aware of the depletion of the population of birds around the world. Â Recommended!
