Heart of an Oak / Le Chêne is a wordless documentary film from France that takes place at a 210 years old oak tree in Sologne.
Following the tree and its animal inhabitants through the four seasons, Heart of an Oak is enthralling.
Although clearly edited and staged to create something of a story, it is to be admired because of the scenes it has captured.
Directed by Laurent Charbonnier and Michel Seydoux, this puts the animals, birds and bugs front and centre.
It’s a joy to watch them, whether at play, feeding, getting romantic, or dealing with the responsibilities of being a parent.
There is danger, too, with a bird of prey chase and a predatory snake seen off from the branches of the tree.
Without narration, this is driven by music and, in one case, a song to accompany scenes of insect coitus. It’s educational, funny, and beautiful.
You can enjoy the images while wondering how on earth they got the shots and how long it took.
The footage of the animals and birds dealing with a sudden rainstorm is a definite highlight, as is the rhythmic fall of autumn acorns.
A wild boar stops to scratch an itch, and a red squirrel shows off its athleticism. Two Eurasian jays chatter and explore, wood mouse hides from discovery by a fox or a badger.
Children may well enjoy watching the animals and listening to the sound effects. There is much to discuss about habitat, behaviour, and conservation.
For the older viewer, there are gems to be found throughout the scenes. The cute factor is definitely present throughout, especially in spring scenes of new life.
Heart of an Oak rises to the challenge of complete immersion into the heart of one of the greatest of trees.
It utilises 360-degree virtual cameras, special effects, and a lot of imagination.
This allows us a privileged insight into the creatures who live alongside us.
Heart of an Oak is a spectacular wildlife adventure which premieres exclusively in the UK on the Icon Film Channel from 10 Jun.
It then comes to UK cinemas from 12 Jul and on digital download from 12 Aug.
*****