Ah, the power of imagination. But there are times when what we envision doesn’t quite jibe with reality. This French TV/cinema spot from agency BETC Euro RSCG, Paris, presents a comical case in point.
We open on a man and a woman standing in a cafeteria line. The guy tells his colleague about this great movie he saw, The Emperor’s Journey.
Immediately the woman starts to envision the film. The spot takes us into her mind in which she pictures a Napoleon-like figure trekking across rough terrain.
“It’s amazing,” continues the man. “It’s set in the Antarctica.”
This causes a quick rethink on the part of the woman, who now pictures Napoleon walking through a snowy icescape.
“There are hundreds of emperors and they’re all marching across these ice fields for days and days,” says the man of the movie storyline.
Again, the woman has to mentally regroup. She sees hundreds of Napoleons moving in procession through icy environs.
“Some slide on their bellies–to go faster,” relates the guy.
We then see these Napoleons doing belly flops and sliding on the ice.
“At one point, one of them gets eaten by a seal.”
The Napoleons are seen scurrying for their lives as a giant seal emerges from a nearby lake in pursuit. The seal swallows one of the emperors alive.
Suddenly we’re back in the cafeteria where the woman has an understandably bewildered expression on her face. But she cannot help but continue to envision the movie being described to her.
The man picks up where the storyline left off. “There are some really moving moments too,” he says. “Like when they pass their eggs to each other.”
The woman sees in her mind Napoleons sharing chicken eggs–some passing individual eggs, others cartons of eggs.
Finally the woman’s imagination cannot keep up with the next new script wrinkle. The man relates that earlier the emperors “were all mating for hours.”
The emperors look at each other, seemingly reluctant to act out the latest plot twist.
Before we’re subject to witnessing Napoleonic mating, it becomes clear that the emperors are penguins. And the movie The Emperor’s Journey also goes by the title The March of the Penguins, the acclaimed documentary that has charmed audiences worldwide.
A parting supered message reads, “Movies are made to be seen,” followed by a tag with the Canal+ logo, which is billed as France’s cinema TV channel.
Titled “March of the Emperors,” this Canal+ promo spot was directed by the Glue Society via @radical.media, Paris. Exec producers/producers for @radical were Alexis Bensa and Guy Pechard. Adam Kimmel was the DP.
The BETC Euro RSCG creative team consisted of copywriters Pierre Riess and Luc Rouzier, art directors Romain Guillon and Eric Astorgue and producers David Green and Simon Chater Robinson.
Yann Malcor edited via @radical.media. Colorist was freelancer Dider Lefouest, with post done at Paris houses Medialab and My Lounge. Jane Jameaux was post producer for Medialab and My Lounge. Audio post mixer was Sebastien Cannas of Capitaine Plouf, Paris.
Visual effects were done by No Brain, a Paris-based collective of graphic designers.
India’s Official Oscar Entry, Which Failed To Make The Cut, Tops Bollywood Awards Show With 10 Wins
The film that was submitted as India's official Oscar entry but failed to make the final list of nominees has swept the International Indian Film Academy Awards, which recognize outstanding work in the country's film industry.
Director Kiran Rao's critically acclaimed "Laapataa Ladies" — renamed "Lost Ladies" for its Oscar campaign — emerged as the biggest winner at the 2025 IIFA Awards, bagging 10 wins, including best picture and best direction.
The 2023 comedy is about two veiled brides who are accidentally swapped during a train ride, and tackles issues of patriarchy and gender roles, a shift from decades of male-centered mainstream Indian movies.
"It's a rare privilege to win an award for a film like 'Laapataa Ladies.' It's been a wonderful night. It's a rare privilege to make a film like this," Rao said in her acceptance speech.
Rao's film — a rare departure from most Bollywood films, which typically feature song-and-dance routines, violence and melodrama — also won in categories for best story, best screenplay and best actress in a leading role.
The annual ceremony of IIFA began in the western city of Jaipur on Saturday and concluded Sunday.
Indian cinema's most recognizable names took part in the glitzy event and Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and actor Shahid Kapoor were among those who performed at the ceremony. The event was hosted by veteran director and producer Karan Johar and actor Kartik Aaryan.
The awards show also presents an opportunity for Indian celebrities to showcase their fashion, and this year was no exception. Notable figures such as Madhuri Dixit, Katrina Kaif and Kareena Kapoor Khan displayed their fashion choices on the green carpet.
Read More