MovieChat Forums > Frozen Planet (2012) Discussion > Emotional part of the premiere

Emotional part of the premiere

posted 12 years ago by zuzupetal_99
8 replies | jump to latest

I don't like seeing the parts in documentaries where animals are eating eachother and ripping bodies apart, even though I know that's all just a part of life....But the scene with the weddel seal being hunted by the pod of killer whales just left me heartbroken. It looked so innocent and sweet lounging on a piece of ice, and so outnumbered & outsmarted by all the killer whales, which it was interesting to learn about thier hunting skills. But the seal gets away and climbs onto another patch of ice, but he's too exhausted to move even an inch more. That's when the killer whale quietly pulls the seal into the water - the way the whale barely emerged from the water and not even ferociously pulls the seal in, and the way the seal put up no more struggle, didn't even cry, just looks straight into the camera, accepting his fate and slips noiselessly into the water, into death, just really struck a chord with me. It really was a sad scene to watch. It's sad to see any creature realize they are about to die, and then actually accept that fate.

"Are you going to your grave with unlived lives in your veins?" ~ The Good Girl

[–] johnnyhightest 12 years ago

I agree with you, zuzu, but the whole production was one long example of animal-on-animal aggression and anguish. It was "Animals Eating Animals" "Animals Hunting Animals" "Animals Fighting Off Other Animals" etc. The scene where the adult musk ox bumps into the young one to make it easier for the grey wolves to devour it (thereby ensuring the herd's survival); the scene where the polar bear must fight off all those competing males to ensure his bloodline (in the meantime getting mauled and bloodied himself); the elephant seals chewing each other's faces to maintain their dominance over their harems, and so on. I, too, felt sad for the poor seal plucked from the pack ice by the orca. But I soon lost my empathy when I saw all the other examples of zoological horror. In fact, the only scene of lightheartedness was when that penguin managed to elude that seal...trying to eat it.

[–] animaniac1 12 years ago

I agree with you as well, even reading your post made me tear up again. It was a very sad scene.

[–] Thomas-FordJr-1 12 years ago

This is nature people. It's OK to get emotional about some parts, but it's nature. Nature is brutal and unforgiving. If those Orcas don't eat that seal, or seals, or whatever, they, and their young will die. Do you feel sorry for the hundreds of fish a day that the seal eats?

Nature is all about finding your next meal and finding a mate, period. And the pursuit of these things ARE brutal. Humans as a species, are not that far removed from the same everyday struggle. It's just easy to play arm-chair QB from the comfort of our pampered lives, and point out how "brutal and violent" nature is.

What's funny though is: Having Humans call the other animals on this planet brutal and violent, when we ourselves are the most violent(by far)species this planet has EVER seen. Not only to other animals, of whom we have wiped out countless species, but to each other, and the planet in general. Take comfort in the fact that these animals are killing and fighting out of neccesity and survival of their species, and not just for sport or for the sake of development/progress...

[–] hulk67 12 years ago

Also take comfort in the fact that it was one seal for the pod. Its not like feast.

[–] hulk67 12 years ago

Also take comfort in the fact that it was one seal for the pod. It wasn't much of a feast.

[–] wse-jack 11 years ago

so basicly nature is sex, violence and frantic paranoid desperation.... cause I thought that was just manchester.

[–] tomislav888 11 years ago

funny thing that in my case that scene brought tears caused by excitement I get watching Orcas being superior and the way they are hunting, I cannot stop being amazing about Orcas hunting eacht time I encounter on one recorded.

[–] Whiskyfeet 8 years ago

That scene also got me. The way the little seal looked into the camera clearly saying he's had enough and too tired to keep fighting. Then he gets very slowly and almost delicately pulled into the water knowing his life is seconds from being over. Quite sad