Paris (AFP)
Fly in a microlight with wild geese to change their migration route: this crazy bet, attempted by a scientist in the 1990s, resumes its flight with "Give me wings", the latest fiction by Nicolas Vanier, in theaters Wednesday .
More than a film, "Give me wings" is an ecological project for this director and adventurer, known for his dog sled journeys. His hope this time is to save the endangered goose.
"When we see that a third of the birds have disappeared in Europe, how not to be alarmed?" Asks Nicolas Vanier in an interview with AFP.
"I've always been interested in nature, birds ... and fools," says the director, who saw in Christian Moullec's adventure the "material" to make a fiction and beyond, "to to pass a message".
Twenty years ago, this meteorologist managed the feat of flying with geese aboard his ultralight to Lapland, to "learn" a new migration route.
The journey between the wintering area of these birds, in the south of France, and their migration zone in northern Europe, which has been used for millennia, is no longer viable and the many obstacles ( light pollution, increasing urbanization, wind farms, hunting, etc.) lead to excessive mortality.
Hence the idea of showing them a safer way. But how to show them the way? Christian Moullec is based on the theory of impregnation, according to which some animals recognize as a parent the first living being - animal or human - that they see at birth. He therefore hatched the geese before him, taking charge of their learning so that they follow their human "dad" during their first flights.
The experiment, conducted at the time with about fifteen birds, had worked. "The birds left alone on the route that the man had shown them, thanks to a reprogramming of their + GPS +", explains Nicolas Vanier.
"We know that it works, and I am well placed to know because we reiterated the experience for the film," shot in real conditions, says the filmmaker. Now, "to save the species, it would be necessary to repeat the experiment with 150 to 200 birds, the minimum according to the scientists to reconstitute a capital".
- A project that makes debate -
Christian Moullec could not go further, obtaining neither the financing nor the authorizations in the countries crossed (Netherlands, Norway ...). Especially because his project was not unanimous: "the principle of deviating migratory currents can work for some species, like the bald ibis." But for the dwarf goose, the experience of Christian Moullec was not retained by scientists as part of the conservation programs of the species, "explains to AFP Yves Verilhac, Director General of the League of Birds Protection (LPO).
The best way to protect these birds would be, first of all, to "create nature reserves and stop hunting them". The LPO is nevertheless partner of the film, "because it is a beautiful fiction that raises awareness about the disappearance of birds".
Nicolas Vanier hopes that the impact of "Give me wings" will allow him to have the support to continue the project. "I talked to high European Commissioners, I even touched a word to Macron," he says.
The director of "Belle et Sébastien" signs one of his "most engaged" films, at the end of an "infernal" shoot, because filming birds flying, that's what's more And yet, I shot at least 50 degrees in Siberia with wolves! "
Transposed to our time, the adventure of Christian Moullec is traced with panache, and draws the touching portrait of a scientist (played by Jean-Paul Rouve) who manages to pass on his passion to his teenage son (Louis Vazquez).
© 2019 AFP