Whispers in the Woods: Vincent Munier’s Poetic Invitation to Listen to the Forest
A Rhapsody of Silence: A New Documentary That Speaks Through Nature
In his latest film, Whispers in the Woods (Le Chant des forêts), celebrated wildlife photographer Vincent Munier takes audiences deep into the ancient heart of the Vosges mountains, accompanied by his father and 12-year-old son. Premiering at the BFI London Film Festival, this documentary is not just a visual experience — it is an immersion into a living, breathing ecosystem.
Against the gentle rhythm of wind through pine needles and the distant call of a lynx, Vincent captures moments that words can barely hold. The film is both a love letter to the forest and a multi-generational dialogue between those who cherish it most.
A Legacy of Listening to the Wild
When we think of voices who have carried the message of the wild to the world, names like Jane Goodall and David Attenborough immediately surface. With Goodall’s recent passing, many wonder who will carry the torch forward. For me, Vincent is someone who stands out too. Yet, he doesn’t speak with a loud voice — instead, he listens. And he teaches us to listen too.
I first discovered his work more than two decades ago at the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition in London. Among countless breathtaking images, his stood out immediately — delicate, near-monochrome compositions, imbued with a quiet poetry that felt unlike anything else. If wildlife had a language of verse, it would speak through Vincent Munier’s lens.
The Art of Patience and the Language of the Forest
Vincent’s gift lies not only in technical & visually emotional mastery but also in the deep respect and patience with which he approaches the natural world. His photographs are whispered conversations between species, moments captured only because the forest accepted his presence and he respected hers.
Lynx, deer, owls, and the elusive capercaillie move through his frames not as intruders but as inhabitants of a shared world. Every feather, every movement, every pause, every song is an invitation to slow down and observe. In a time when nature is often consumed in seconds on a scrolling screen, Munier gives us back the hours.
Homecoming: The Vosges Mountains Reimagined
As someone who also grew up near the Vosges (and who is the same generation as Vincent), I once failed to see its beauty. Through his images, I rediscovered it. His camera transforms the familiar into the transcendent — every mist-covered tree, every snow-softened path, a testament to the quiet grandeur of the forest.
It’s deceptively easy to ignore the magical beauty that is so close to us. Yet, Vincent has shown me — and countless others — that beauty can be found anywhere if one knows how to look and how to listen.
Three Generations Under the Canopy
What makes Whispers in the Woods uniquely powerful is its intimate lens on family. This is Munier’s most personal work to date. For the first time, he portrays his father, the man (I’ve heard him say so many times) who introduced him to the forest as a teenager. Alongside them, his 12-year-old son Simon walks the same trails, listens to the same birdsong, learns the same language of the wild.
The scenes between father, son, and grandson are among the most moving of the film — a rare intergenerational dialogue about what it means to inherit a world worth protecting. It is both legacy and warning: the forest they have loved for decades is changing. The trees may live centuries, but climate change, deforestation, and human indifference are fast-moving forces.
A Gift and a Call to Action
Watching Whispers in the Woods felt like being given a key to a secret door — one that leads not to fantasy but to the world just beyond our doorsteps. Through Vincent’s eyes, the forest is no longer distant or silent; it is a neighbour, a teacher, a fragile friend.
This realization is what makes the film so essential. It’s not just art. It’s an urgent reminder of what we stand to lose — and why we must fight for what remains.
From Beauty to Loss: Two Sides of the Same Coin
The night after seeing Munier’s film, I prepared (not without some anxiety) to watch another documentary showing at the BFI London Film Festival the next day about wildfires in Spain and their impact not only on human life but the ecosystem and its animals including wild horses. From beauty to destruction — two sides of the same ecological story. Munier’s father says in the film: “We must keep fighting for what remains.”
Yes, it is devastating to see a species vanish or a forest fall. But others still stand, and they need our voices. They need our listening.
Listening Is the First Step Toward Protecting
Whispers in the Woods is not a documentary to simply watch; it is one to experience. It invites us to slow down, breathe, and listen. In a time when much of our world is under threat, this quiet act of listening may be our most radical form of care.
Vincent Munier has offered us a rare and precious gift: a reminder that as long as there is beauty, there is hope.
Upcoming and recent screenings
Rome Film Fest (Italy): The film was a Special Screening at the festival in October 2025.
BFI London Film Festival (Great Britain): Screenings took place in October 2025, with some dates selling out.
Zurich Film Festival (Switzerland): The documentary was part of the competition in September/October 2025.
Other events: The film has also had premieres in France, such as one in Les Sables-d'Olonne in late August 2025.
Theatrical release
France: The official release date in French cinemas is set for December 17, 2025.
Other countries: Details for theatrical releases outside of France are not yet widely announced. Keep an eye on cinema websites in your area for local release schedules.
Streaming and online
While some services like Plex list the film, it is not yet available for general streaming due to its recent festival run and upcoming theatrical release.
For a notification on when the film becomes available to stream, you can use a service like JustWatch.