Yes
folks, the BBC have managed it again. The people of the nation have already
begun to fall into the slump commonly diagnosed as the ‘January blues’. After
an exceptionally lethargic, glutton-filled Christmas and the impending horror of
overdue essay deadlines and exams, what better form of epic escapism than our
very own national treasure: David Attenborough. Whilst we battle the usual winter
misery and head back to the hustle and bustle of our ‘concrete jungle’,
Attenborough’s husky, dulcet tones narrate a much more distant jungle: Africa.
It’s his
infamous narration that has made him a British icon and after working for over
60 years at the forefront of wildlife documentaries, it’s no surprise that yet
another of his programmes has become an instant success with over 6.5 million
viewers on the first night. I feel I speak for all of us when I say that David
is the extra Granddad we never had, his boyish passion, jovial face and
plodding determination epitomise his British-ness and have led to his longevity
as a presenter. So every Wednesday at 9pm, we tune in to see our favourite,
friendly grandfather’s creation; one which, I dare to assert, is truly magical.
Sorry, I know, but I’m a sucker for a baby elephant or a comic meerkat. Aren’t
we all?
From the
Atlas Mountains in the North of Algeria, to the fiery Cape of Good Hope in
South Africa, the jungles in the Congo and the expanses of the turbulent
Atlantic Ocean in the West, Attenborough’s latest masterpiece is a programme 4
years in the making. It took 79 expeditions, was filmed in 27 different
countries and a monumental 6,500 malaria tablets were consumed. Both
educational and amusing, the sheer cinematic beauty and magnificence (even if
perhaps hyperbolised by Attenborough in his narration) allows us all to be
sucked into a new dangerous world, where all amateur photographers and
biologists alike can experience a visual orgasm.
Littered
with humour, sadness and pure enjoyment, both the cleverly orchestrated
musicality of the episodes and Attenborough’s narration, I believe, are pure
genius. Attenborough has been plagued with criticism in his last few series for
indulging in anthropomorphism, the personification of the animals. I, however,
believe his friendly narrative voice is necessary for the success of the clips,
merely emphasising that animals are surprisingly human in their temperaments. This
is seen best in the interplay with the Black Rhinos. Highly endangered and serene,
these massive animals have been written off in the past by experts, as solitary,
aggressive creatures; but Africa is
able to dismiss these incorrect beliefs. For the first time, this wildlife
documentary is able to explore their most intimate night –time interactions and
the rhinos are found to be both comical and endearingly flirtatious. Under the
stars, one male rhino lumbers over to a nervous, unsuspecting female, dangling
a pair of antelope antlers over his nose, much like an flamboyant form of ‘peacocking’
on a drunken night at Evolve. This time he’s in luck however, and his
outlandish display wins him a few precious moments of naughty cavorting.
Unfortunately for her, he turns out to be a disappointment and what’s a girl to
do, she pulls the sleep card. As David Attenborough well points out, ‘a girl
can only put up with so much’.
Perhaps most fitting about
Attenborough’s first episode, Kalahari, is
the fight between the giraffes. Much like a scene from a Wild West movie, the old
bull swaggers onto the scene chewing on leaves from the surrounding oasis,
waiting confidently as a young female is spotted. Then, out of nowhere, a young
buck arrives beginning the old rival stake-down for the glory and ownership of
both the filly and the much needed water. Whoever loses will be exiled…sound
familiar? John Wayne’s got nothing on these guys. The clever slow-motion
footage captures the grace and power of their extraordinary necks, as they
thwack each other with such force that they both crumple to the ground like
intoxicated students devoid of balance after a heavy night at Pop. The old buck
wins, seeing off the pretender, who lies as if dead, for a good few minutes.
Attenborough has wizened over his years, but he can’t hide the approval in his
voice of the older guy’s victory. Much like the giraffe, Attenborough remains
at the top of his game and isn’t going to give up just yet. Watch this space.
