Le chêne

Wordless French documentary essentially following a year through the seasons for a two hundred year old oak tree, and all the life that happens on it, from birds and squirrels and insects in its branches to wood mice living in its roots and fungi below the earth, to deer, coypu and boars around it. Great use of sound (breeze through leaves of a tree has to be one of the nicest sounds in the world), this is one to see on the big screen so you can immerse yourself into it. Introduction at the Edinburgh International Film Festival noted that it has been a huge hit in France, accounting for half a million tickets.

This documentary is a near-perfect, family-friendly celebration of biodiversity - visually sumptuous, calmly assured and thoroughly enjoyable. The decision to drop narration lets the cinematography and sound design do the talking; the result is meditative and engaging in a way that many talky nature films only aspire to be.

Technically, it's superb: striking cinematography, crisp editing, excellent audio mixing and a well-measured score that supports rather than dictates emotion. Direction and screenplay are confident and minimalist, keeping the pace moderate and the tone balanced between humour, quiet reflection and wonder.

The choice to list species in the end credits is respectful of the film's atmosphere. A few brief pacing tweaks in places would lift it from excellent to flawless.

Verdict: a beautifully made, thought-provoking, essential watch - spare, rich and full of life.

8.5/10.

I thought this film was the best thing I had seen for a long time, having seen it at The Watershed in Bristol. I love nature in all its forms and I was mesmerised by the life in the oak tree, by the variety of animals, insects, birds, even a snake climbing up the tree. I commend the amazing filming and editing that must have taken place, by the patience of all the crew over a year and a half, and by the fantastic diversity of life that exists in nature. I particularly love Jays, and I was astonished at the Acorn Weevils, never having heard of them before, but everything was just wonderful. Thank you for this film; I cannot recommend it enough, and I do hope that I can get to see it again some day.

Stunning......Absolutley Stunning!

Cinematography was mind blowing!

Im not realy a nature person....but ill never put a trap down for a mouse again...& its time for me to get a bird feeder in the garden for Squirel & all of Gods creatures!

How can such a short film make such an impact! Brilliant !!!!!

When I checked out the programme for the 2022 Edinburgh International Film Festival, I was a little alarmed when I noticed the best film I could find was a documentary about a tree. So, the question has to be, did it meet my lofty expectations? In all honesty probably not but it still was a beautifully shot nature doc which was well crafted throughout. There is no voice-over, so things are conveyed by the often very impressive imagery captured. My overall middling assessment was because I thought it maybe lacks a bit of variety and the music was somewhat on the nose/cheesy at times. Still, its a nice bit of work and if you are in the mood for some weevil action then this is the place to come.