Birdmen - Trailer

Birdmen: The Original Dream of Human Flight - An adrenaline-filled thrill ride through the radical new sport that allows men to fly like birds.

Get it now on:

Like us on Facebook:
Follow us on Twitter:
Follow us on Instagram:

At first you might mistake it for a mountaintop costume party: three young hikers in flapping, brightly-coloured bat costumes, pausing to admire the view. But under their faintly ridiculous trappings, Matt, Ellen and Mike are deadly serious. They are wingsuit basejumpers - diehard members of an elite sporting community. Prior to flinging themselves into the void, they've made lengthy calculations, and are prepared to make split-second decisions once airborne. While standing, walking or at rest, their wings hang heavy and uncomfortable from the human body. But in mid-air they seem to morph into a new species and leave the human race behind. In the words of one basejumper: "it's only when you leave the cliff - when you're flying - that you really feel at home."

The very idea of human flight is one of our deepest sources of fear and desire. As old as the oldest myths, it has become a pop cultural motif, recurring in movies and comics from Star Wars to Superman. Throughout history, self-styled "birdmen" have been flying in the face of danger: to men like Otto Lilienthal, Clem Sohn and Leo Valentin (all of whom met their deaths this way) the high risk of fatal accident was "a small sacrifice". Today, however, technological advances mean that the modern-day Icarus is increasingly likely to survive the plunge. And as wingsuits become more comfortable and cheaper to make, the sport looks set for a popularity explosion. A new wave of thrill-seekers is taking to its sewing machines, creating skin-tight flying suits in the hope of taking to the skies.

Birdmen tells the story of our attempts to defy the limits of our bodies, via a collage of fantastic aerial camerawork that captures the world's most spectacular scenery from impossible angles. "Few other people understand the feelings involved," says Ellen. It's life-changing, and instantly addictive - but, as with all addictions, the feeling comes at a cost. At 100mph, even clipping a treetop can mean the end. But according to the initiated, that moment of freefall lasts "longer than any other moment in your life" - a feeling that transforms their perception of death. This incredible film is probably the closest most of us will ever get to experiencing it...

Proximity Productions LLC - Ref. 5465

[MrRuvinsky]

i wish i could have a chance to be a birdmen this is so cool

[peteberwick]

Nothing but respect for these crazy bastards, and the bastardette. Enormous balls, excellent documentary. Anytime one faces a fear, just watch this, and see how small your fear actually is in proportion to what these amazing athletes do.

[examine]

You'll never know what's going to happen if you don't try. But it doesn't mean you must have no fear or total fear. Its what makes cautious choices possible.

[ChaosInFlux]

You can either rent or buy it off of Itunes.

[HolidayKirk]

You'd think it would be hard to fly with those massive balls weighing them down.

[HolidayKirk]

Do people post this all the time? I didnt know.

[ForgettableVids]

Fear keeps them alive. But my fear keeps me from even trying these things in the first place. If they invent too many more sports like this I won't be able to leave my house. I will just watch youtube and cower in fear.

[Chitwnhigh]

Anyone know where I can find the full movie? Thanks

[TheTriggerhappy]

Agreed. Even the girl has bigger balls than me.

[bojan]

Superman is nothing compared to this man

[HereIamWhatNow]

Apparently you haven't a clue what DoAction's statement means.