Wildheart

Few beings have lived to see a 500-year sweep of history at a time of such unprecedented change. This is the remarkable biography of a noble Scots pine tree—ancient, gnarled, and weather worn. It stands in the Scottish Highlands, exactly where it landed as a tiny seed some five centuries ago, and where it greeted a young Mary, Queen of Scots, who was then just a child herself. It becomes the heart of a magnificent highland wilderness, home to eagles, wolves, strutting capercaillies, and feisty red squirrels.

Directed by —, Wildheart leans on a strong ensemble — Thoren Ferguson — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about documentary titles of 2023.