The Year of the Wildebeest
(1974)
Successfully conveying the sheer scale and enormity of the wildebeest (Connochaetes gnou) migration, The Year of the Wildebeest, provides a breathtakingly dramatic view of this immense, epic journey. A dream-child of internationally acclaimed wildlife photographers Alan and Joan Root, this film provides a captivating insight into life during this electrifying and action-packed pilgrimage.
The relentless movement of the herd continues as calves are born and predators attack, with orphans left to fend for themselves. Capturing crocodile strikes in all their gruesome glory, the Roots’ stunning images were the first to detail the perilous river crossings, now standard fare in documentaries of this genre.
Famous for their innovative cinematography techniques, the couple captured the pounding energy and incessant hammering of the thundering herd by placing cameras at ground level, protecting them with tortoise shells. The footage gained skillfully transmits the raw, thrilling power as the mighty river storms along.
Impressively filmed, The Year of the Wildebeest is a memorable and majestic portrait of one of greatest wildlife spectacles on Earth.
Alan Root
