Kita kitsune monogatari (1979, Koreyoshi Kurahara)

auess · Mensaje por **auess** » Vie 25 Mar, 2005 15:25

Kita-kitsune monogatari (1979)

Directed by
Koreyoshi Kurahara ("Nankyoku monogatari", "Ame no Amsterdam"...)

Also Known As:
Story of the Northern Fox (informal literal English title)
The Glacier Fox (USA)

Runtime: 117 min uncut
Country: Japan
Color: Color
Sound Mix: Stereo
imdb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079212/

The Glacier Fox is an exciting documentary filmed in the frozen regions of Northern Japan. Director Korey Kurahara, who apparently was weaned on Disney's True Life Adventures, strikes just the right balance between reality and artifice. His "cast" consists of a family of wild foxes, each with his or her own distinct personality. The film explores the foxes' efforts to survive the elements and their ever-threatening environment. The Glacier Fox runs 90 minutes, and "runs" is just the right word to describe the breathless pace of this movie. — Hal Erickson

The story of a family of foxes struggling to survive in the hostile environment of northern Japan. Stunning photography.

I first discovered this gem on The Disney Channel by accident back in 1984, and wish more than anything that I had owned a VCR at the time so I could have taped it. It was once out on home video and I hear even won an award for its special presentation, but is apparently now on moratorium...I BEG somebody to please re-release it, even if it isn't in stereo if you do! Basically, it's a semi-documentary of a family of foxes...I say "semi" because it has a story attached to it and very believably so...charmingly narrated and with genuinely catchy, fun original songs composed just for it, plus a GORGEOUS orchestral score. A lovely little sleeper which does a great job of catching the wonder and majesty of not just foxes, but nature in particular and is guaranteed to be dearly loved by anyone who loves animals, even if they aren't particularly nuts by "documentary" films. It may even make you shed a tear or two in some spots. I wish more than anything that it will be re-released.

Note: This legendary documentary is ripped from a ultra rare japanese limited edition of Kita-kitsune monogatari, only released in japan once, so it's original 117 min uncut with japanese narrated by Eiji Okada (not that 90 min edition by Arthur Hill), although no subs but most of time only wonderful soundtracks. One of the best natural documentary ever made.