Ludovico Einaudi launches new film to tackle biodiversity
May 15, 2023
WaterBear Network- the free streaming platform that brings inspiration and action together through films – and production company Studio Birthplace have teamed up with renowned composer Ludovico Einaudi for Broken Wings, a new short capturing the journey tropical birds make from forest to cage.
Soundtracked by Ludovico Einaudi’s Low Mist, the new film uncovers a devastating pet industry that silences forests worldwide, highlighting the consequences of bird poaching on biodiversity and the world’s ecosystem.
Globally, 49 per cent of bird species are declining, and one in eight are threatened with extinction. Southeast Asia alone is home to over one-fifth of global bird species with large-scale wildlife trafficking being rife throughout the region, as a result of the global pet trade demand.
Being one of the most ubiquitous contemporary composers of the century and the highest-streamed classical pianist of all time, Einaudi previously brought attention to the protection of the Arctic Ocean. Now, Einaudi shares his platform to bring attention to the issue of wild bird trafficking.
Einaudi stated: “Music has the ability to transcend language barriers and connect with people on a deep emotional level, raising awareness on important issues and having a positive impact on the world. With nearly half of the world’s wild bird species in decline, and one in eight at risk of extinction, we must stop the trafficking of wild birds. Let’s leave them free, let’s keep them out of cages.”
The team at Studio Birthplace, helmed by directors Jorik Dozy and Sil van der Woerd, set out to capture the story of a single bird, from being captured in the wild, to ending up in a cage as a pet bird. The team conducted extensive on-the-ground research, followed a real bird poacher for several days, and filmed in three wildlife markets.
The film launches exclusively on WaterBear Network on May 15th as the streaming platform continues to tell stories from the front line of climate and social activism.
Sam Sutaria, CEO of WateBear, commented: “This film explores the line between fascination and destruction and how the pet industry can lead to the devastation of ecosystems around the world. We’re so excited to work with the esteemed Ludovico Einaudi to bring this issue to life – raising greater awareness around the threat we are causing to biodiversity and animal extinction is vital right now. Through the universal power of music and film, Broken Wings captures the innate beauty of wild birds and the fatal suffering being inflicted on them.”
To tie in with the new release, Indonesia-based NGO Thrive Conservation has compiled a report on the wild bird trade in Southeast Asia for viewers who want to learn more. They are working to protect birds in Indonesia, a country with more globally threatened bird species than anywhere else in the world. Viewers will be urged to stop caging wild birds and donate to Thrive Conservation.
Broken Wings was filmed over a period of 7 days. The birds that were poached while filming were released back into the wild at the end of the shoot.