Flight of the Butterflies

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Flight of the Butterflies
Flight of the Butterflies poster.jpg
Flight of the Butterflies poster
Directed by Mike Slee
Written by
  • Mike Slee
  • Wendy MacKeigan
Produced by
  • Jonathan Barker
  • Rafael Cuervo
  • Mike Slee
Starring
Narrated by Megan Follows
Cinematography
  • Simon De Glanville
  • Paul Williams
Edited by Susan Shipton
Production
companies
  • SK Films
  • Sin Sentido Films
Distributed bySK Films
Release date
Running time
44 minutes
Country Canada
LanguageEnglish

Flight of the Butterflies is a 2012 Canadian documentary film directed and co-written by Mike Slee for 3D IMAX, starring Megan Follows, Gordon Pinsent, and Shaun Benson. [1] The film covers Dr. Fred Urquhart's nearly 40-year-long scientific investigation into the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), tracking the details of what is considered one of the longest known insect migrations: the flight of the monarch butterfly from Central Mexico to the United States and Canada and back. [2]

Contents

Synopsis

Female monarch Monarch In May.jpg
Female monarch

Monarch butterflies are a familiar sight in the United States and Canada most of the year, but disappear from most locations in winter. The documentary film weaves together factual information about the monarchs with a dramatic re-enactment of the search for the answer to the mystery of where they spend the winter. The story line follows Urquhart as a child in Canada, fascinated by the butterflies; his years of research and study, together with his wife and collaborator Norah, into their life and migration; and their recruitment of a pair of amateur naturalists in Mexico to search for and ultimately find the butterflies there, concluding with his time decades later as a senior scientist looking back at his investigations and discoveries about the insect's life pattern. In addition to finding the overwintering sites, he discovered that it takes two or three generations for the monarch butterflies to reach the Canadian breeding grounds, while one much-longer-lived "supergeneration" makes the 2,500-mile (4,000 km) return trip south into central Mexico. [3]

Cast

Production

With Mike Slee announced as director, the film went into principal development in February 2007. [4] In August 2007, the U.S. National Science Foundation awarded a three million dollar grant to Canadian SK Films to both develop the film for the giant screen and create its educational outreach program. The grant amount is the maximum available from the NSF. [5] Filming took place through 2011 and 2012, and tracked the butterflies from their winter habitats in central Mexico to their breeding grounds in the southern United States to their summer habitat in Canada, and their subsequent return to Mexico. [6] In filming the butterflies, director Slee considered using balloons, helicopters, and cables, but ultimately decided on use of a 70-foot crane. [3] SK Films announced that principal filming of the one-year project was completed in early March 2012. [7]

Release

The film had its world premiere on September 24, 2012, at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., hosted by the Federal government of Mexico, through the Mexico Tourism Board and the Embassy of Mexico. [8] [9]

An early version of the film was screened at the Maryland Science Center on March 31, 2012, [10] and the completed IMAX version distributed and screened in early October 2012 at various 3D IMAX theaters such as the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, New Jersey. [11] Portions of the film's box office receipts went to fund butterfly conservation efforts. [12]

Reception

The film has been favorably received by multiple sources. Variety compared the film to March of the Penguins , writing that as a non-commercial film, it "neatly balances entertainment and education" in a manner "bound to fascinate schoolchildren", and offered that its 3D IMAX visuals were phenomenal. [13] The Washington Post declared the film a "critic's pick", and in praising the film's 3D IMAX realism, noted the film wove together the life and studies of Dr. Fred Urquhart and the life cycle of the monarch butterfly from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis to adult insect, adding that it resulted in "an educational but equally engrossing bit of filmmaking" [14] that was "armchair travel at its most engaging". [15] They also favorably compared the film against March of the Penguins for its ability "to tug at heartstrings", and make the viewer feel personally invested in Urquhart's quest. [14] Ottawa Citizen wrote that Fred Urquhart's search of discovery into the life of the monarch butterfly was "a remarkable story" and capturing it made "a stunning documentary that fills the screen." [16]

Slashfilm offered that before major studios recognized the financial potential of IMAX big screens for releases of blockbuster productions, the "theaters primarily played nature and science documentaries". They welcomed the return of such to IMAX theaters through Flight of the Butterflies. [17] And in noting the film's imminent October release, and the number of blockbuster films now being offered in the big-screen 3D format, The Film Stage offered it as a net positive that IMAX theaters will "have a balance of blockbusters and nature films." [18]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Butterfly</span> Group of insects in the order Lepidoptera

Butterflies are insects in the macrolepidopteran clade Rhopalocera from the order Lepidoptera, which also includes moths. Adult butterflies have large, often brightly coloured wings, and conspicuous, fluttering flight. The group comprises the large superfamily Papilionoidea, which contains at least one former group, the skippers, and the most recent analyses suggest it also contains the moth-butterflies. Butterfly fossils date to the Paleocene, about 56 million years ago.

<i>To Fly!</i> 1976 IMAX film by MacGillivray Freeman Films

To Fly! is a 1976 American short docudrama film by Greg MacGillivray and Jim Freeman of MacGillivray Freeman Films. It was the premiere film of the National Air and Space Museum's giant-screen IMAX theater, which opened for the museum's current building to celebrate the United States Bicentennial. The film chronicles the history of aviation in the US and its effects on humanity, with a narration written by Thomas McGrath. The film explores the search for national identity and humanity's destined relationship with aviation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Movie theater</span> Venue, usually a building or integrated into a shopping mall, for viewing films

A movie theater, cinema, or cinema hall, also known as a picture house, the pictures, picture theater, the silver screen, the big screen or the movies, is a building that contains auditoria for viewing films for entertainment. Most, but not all, theaters are commercial operations catering to the general public, who attend by purchasing a ticket. Some movie theaters, however, are operated by non-profit organizations or societies that charge members a membership fee to view films.

IMAX Large-screen film format

IMAX is a proprietary system of high-resolution cameras, film formats, film projectors, and theaters known for having very large screens with a tall aspect ratio and steep stadium seating.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monarch butterfly</span> Milkweed butterfly in the family Nymphalidae

The monarch butterfly or simply monarch is a milkweed butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. Other common names, depending on region, include milkweed, common tiger, wanderer, and black-veined brown. It is amongst the most familiar of North American butterflies and an iconic pollinator, although it is not an especially effective pollinator of milkweeds. Its wings feature an easily recognizable black, orange, and white pattern, with a wingspan of 8.9–10.2 cm(3+1⁄2–4 in) A Müllerian mimic, the viceroy butterfly, is similar in color and pattern, but is markedly smaller and has an extra black stripe across each hindwing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gordon Pinsent</span> Canadian actor/director/writer/singer

Gordon Edward Pinsent is a Canadian actor, writer, director, and singer. He is known for his roles in numerous productions, including Away from Her, The Rowdyman, John and the Missus, A Gift to Last, Due South, The Red Green Show and Quentin Durgens, M.P. He has been the voice of Babar the Elephant in television and film from 1989 to 2015.

IMAX Corporation is a Canadian theatre company which designs and manufactures IMAX cameras and projection systems as well as performing film development, production, post-production and distribution to IMAX-affiliated theatres worldwide. Founded in Montreal in 1967, it has headquarters in the Toronto area, and operations in New York City and Los Angeles.

Stephen Low is a Canadian film director and screenwriter who works extensively in the IMAX and IMAX 3D film formats. Based in Montreal, Quebec, over his 30-plus year career Low has directed numerous award-winning film documentaries including Challenger: An Industrial Romance (1980), Beavers (1988), Titanica (1991), Super Speedway (1997), Volcanoes of the Deep Sea (2003), Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag (2004), Ultimate Wave Tahiti 3D (2010), Legends of Flight 3D (2010), Rescue 3D (2011), Rocky Mountain Express (2011) and Aircraft Carrier (2017).

Insect migration Seasonal movement of insects

Insect migration is the seasonal movement of insects, particularly those by species of dragonflies, beetles, butterflies and moths. The distance can vary with species and in most cases, these movements involve large numbers of individuals. In some cases, the individuals that migrate in one direction may not return and the next generation may instead migrate in the opposite direction. This is a significant difference from bird migration.

Frederick Albert Urquhart, was a Canadian zoologist and professor of zoology who studied the migration of monarch butterflies, Danaus plexippus L. Together with his wife, Norah Roden Urquhart, he identified their migration routes, discovered that the migration spans multiple generations of butterflies, and found their winter place in Mexico—considered "one of the greatest natural history discoveries" of the 20th-century.

CJ CGV South Korean movie theater chain

CJ CGV is the largest multiplex cinema chain in South Korea and also has branches in China, Indonesia, Myanmar, Turkey, Vietnam, and the United States. The fifth largest multiplex theater company in the world, CJ CGV currently operates 3,412 screens at 455 locations in seven countries, including 1,111 screens at 149 locations in South Korea. CGV takes its name from the first letters of the joint venture partners at the time of launching; CJ, Golden Harvest, and Village Roadshow.

Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve

The Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve is a World Heritage Site containing most of the over-wintering sites of the eastern population of the monarch butterfly. The reserve is located in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt pine-oak forests ecoregion on the border of Michoacán and State of Mexico, 100 km, northwest of Mexico City. Millions of butterflies arrive in the reserve annually. Butterflies only inhabit a fraction of the 56,000 hectares of the reserve from October–March. The biosphere’s mission is to protect the butterfly species and its habitat.

Mike Slee

Michael John Slee is a British film-maker, producer/director and writer.

Lepidoptera migration

Many populations of Lepidoptera migrate, sometimes long distances, to and from areas which are only suitable for part of the year. Lepidopterans migrate on all continents except Antarctica, including from or within subtropical and tropical areas. By migrating, these species can avoid unfavorable circumstances, including weather, food shortage, or over-population. In some lepidopteran species, all individuals migrate; in others, only some migrate.

Steven M. Reppert is an American neuroscientist known for his contributions to the fields of chronobiology and neuroethology. His research has focused primarily on the physiological, cellular, and molecular basis of circadian rhythms in mammals and more recently on the navigational mechanisms of migratory monarch butterflies. He was the Higgins Family Professor of Neuroscience at the University of Massachusetts Medical School from 2001 to 2017, and from 2001 to 2013 was the founding chair of the Department of Neurobiology. Reppert stepped down as chair in 2014. He is currently distinguished professor emeritus of neurobiology.

Kenneth C. Brugger was an American naturalist and self-taught textile engineer. He is noted for discovering, with his wife Catalina Trail, the location of the overwintering sites of the monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus.

Catalina Trail is a Mexican-born naturalist and social worker. She is noted for discovering, with her then-husband Kenneth C. Brugger, the location of the overwintering sites of the monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus. Their find completed the story of the monarchs' migration, which has been described as "the entomological discovery of the 20th century."

Monarch butterfly migration

Monarch butterfly migration is the phenomenon, mainly across North America, where the subspecies Danaus plexippus plexippus migrates each summer and autumn to and from overwintering sites on the West Coast of California or mountainous sites in Central Mexico. Other subspecies perform minor migrations or none at all. This massive movement of butterflies has been called "one of the most spectacular natural phenomena in the world".

Monarch Watch

Monarch Watch is a volunteer-based citizen science organization that tracks the fall migration of the monarch butterfly. It is self-described as "a nonprofit education, conservation, and research program based at the University of Kansas that focuses on the monarch butterfly, its habitat, and its spectacular fall migration."

References

  1. ↑ Albin-Najera, Susie (September 14, 2012). "Flight of the Butterflies Opens in Mexico and Theaters Worldwide". The Mexico Report. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
  2. ↑ "SK Films presents "Flight of the Butterflies"". Mexico Today. September 14, 2012. Archived from the original on September 19, 2012. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
  3. 1 2 National Public Radio (September 28, 2012). "'Flight': A Few Million Little Creatures That Could". WBUR . Retrieved October 1, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Off The Fence Announces Deal With Principal Large Format". 4rfv.com. February 27, 2007. Retrieved September 11, 2012.
  5. ↑ "Giant Screen Movie Gets Giant Grant". Mediacaster Magazine. August 16, 2007. Archived from the original on January 28, 2013. Retrieved September 11, 2012.
  6. ↑ Barnett, Mary (September 1, 2012). "Monarch migration demystified in new IMAX film premiering in Chattanooga". Nooga.com. Retrieved September 10, 2012.
  7. ↑ Hawtin, Amber. "Flight of the Butterflies wraps one-year shoot, Mexican President visits set on last day of filming". SK Films. Archived from the original on 2013-04-12. Retrieved September 11, 2012.
  8. ↑ Mexico Tourism Board (September 25, 2012). "Mexico Tourism Board and the Embassy of Mexico Host Flight of the Butterflies in 3D World Premiere". Sacramento Bee . Retrieved October 1, 2012.[ permanent dead link ]
  9. ↑ staff (September 30, 2012). "Mexico Tourism Board, Embassy Host "Flight of the Butterflies" in 3D World Premiere". Hispanically Speaking News . Archived from the original on October 4, 2012. Retrieved October 1, 2012.
  10. ↑ "Flight of the Monarch Butterflies". Maryland Science Center. Archived from the original on 2012-08-19. Retrieved September 11, 2012.
  11. ↑ "Flight of the Butterflies IMAX Film". New York Daily News . Retrieved September 11, 2012.[ permanent dead link ]
  12. ↑ staff (September 28, 2012). "Butterflies' astounding tale revealed in 3-D movie". NBC News . Retrieved October 1, 2012.
  13. ↑ Leydon, Joe (October 8, 2012). "Flight of the Butterflies". Variety . Retrieved October 10, 2012.
  14. 1 2 Merry, Stephanie (October 4, 2012). "Flight of the Butterflies: An IMAX 3D Experience". The Washington Post . Archived from the original on October 5, 2012. Retrieved October 5, 2012.
  15. ↑ Sottili, Carol (October 5, 2012). "See It: A film on where the butterflies go in winter". The Washington Post . Retrieved October 10, 2012.
  16. ↑ Stone, Jay (October 5, 2012). "All hail the monarch". Ottawa Citizen . Retrieved October 5, 2012.
  17. ↑ Lussier, Germain (September 11, 2012). "'Flight of the Butterflies in 3D' Trailer: IMAX Gets Back To Its Natural Roots". /Film . Retrieved September 11, 2012.
  18. ↑ Cunliffe, Jack (September 12, 2012). "IMAX Goes From Batman To 'Butterflies' In First Trailer For Nature Documentary". The Film Stage. Retrieved September 17, 2012.
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