fascinating nature in hostile territory

The southern kiwi isn’t the only surprising animal to live in New Zealand. A multitude of species, adapted to the extreme climate of the archipelago, have developed there for millions of years. Thus it is possible to see parrots flying in the snowy peaks or penguins in the middle of the humid forest.

Among the most intriguing insects of this original fauna is the weta, a kind of giant locust which, to overcome the winter, allows itself to be cryogenized in the ice for several weeks. The webworm is also fascinating. To capture its prey, it spins long garlands of mucus that glow in the night in the light of its bluish abdomen. Believing in a starry sky, the “mayflies” approach it, get stuck in it and are devoured alive.

battle of the elements

Magnificent mountains, lush forests, powerful ocean… this documentary shows the wild nature of New Zealand nature. Located between the 40th and 50th parallel south, nicknamed the “roaring forties” because of the strong winds that blow there, New Zealand is the last land before Antarctica. The climate here is changeable, with frequent rain and snow. This battle of the elements, coupled with global warming, threatens glaciers and accelerates the rise in sea level.

Poetic music accompanies the sequences filmed both at night and at dawn, underwater and in the air, using a drone. Several accelerated passages show the evolution of the landscapes from one season to another in a rather spectacular way. Even if the director Robert Morgenstern flies over the climate issue and its consequences on the ecosystem a little too quickly, his documentary offers a precious moment of wonder.

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