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Untamed Romania
By Kat Halstead,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Beautiful, kid-friendly nature doc has some animal peril.
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Untamed Romania
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What's the Story?
In UNTAMED ROMANIA, Mark Strong narrates the lifecycle of the Romanian wilderness over four seasons, introducing viewers to the incredible ways in which different species have adapted to survive. From a determined female wild boar and a prehistoric species of beluga sturgeon to abseiling caterpillars and the 24-hour flight of the mayfly, the documentary unveils fascinating details of an ecosystem little known to the rest of the world.
Is It Any Good?
One of the things that really sets a nature documentary apart is the cinematography, and here John Waters (nominated for a Primetime Emmy for his work on Meerkat Manor) really excels. Untamed Romania's breathtaking birds-eye views, haunting underwater realms, and magical scenes of mayfly taking flight are vivid and enticing. Playful interludes, such as an abseiling caterpillar and mischievous bear cubs, are accompanied by whimsical music from award-winning composer Nainita Desai, lending a storybook charm to the film.
It took 22 camera operators filming over 400 hours of footage to capture the intimate moments of the animals' lives and the intricate changes of the spectacular landscape across four dramatically different seasons. From beautiful native lilies snapping shut at nighttime to time-lapse techniques showing rotting tree trunks regenerating the ecosystem, there is rarely a dull visual moment. The documentary is an enticing invitation to explore one of Europe's largest and most under-explored wildernesses that will fascinate parents and kids alike.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what they learned from Untamed Romania. How did the different species adapt to survive in the Romanian wilderness? Were you surprised by anything you learned from the documentary?
Did you find any scenes in the film upsetting? If so, which ones?
How did this movie compare to other animal documentaries you may have seen? What did you like, and what didn't you like?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: August 13, 2019
- Cast: Mark Strong
- Director: Tom Barton-Humphries
- Studio: Journeyman Pictures
- Genre: Documentary
- Topics: Bugs , Science and Nature , Wild Animals
- Run time: 92 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: October 8, 2022
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