Having now been shown again on the Spanish State Network recently (though I have the complete collection on VHS many years hence), Félix Rodríguez de la Fuente's incredible animal life series is worth anybody's money and time. Now celebrating 30 years, this series has lost nothing as it is as fresh and as invigorating as when it first appeared on TV.
If "Cosmos" (qv) is arguably the best documentary TV series ever made, I can assure you that "El Hombre y la Tierra" is not far behind. The photography is superb, reaching right into those furtive hard-to-see animals lives; here is all the cruelty of birds of prey catching their rabbits; here is all the beauty of wild wolves roaming in packs through the dense forests; here is the Pyrenean bear in mountain streams catching his daily fish; the otter eking out its living along river banks; here is the majestic Iberian Golden Eagle soaring to great heights, and swooping on its prey; here is his own hunting dogs. If you are a nature-lover of any kind, this superb series will thrill your senses. Similarly to Carl Sagan in English, Rodríguez de la Fuente's careful speaking and didactic techniques offers you more: wonderful lessons in the Spanish language.
You might like to read my mini-biography of Félix Rodríguez de la Fuente on IMDb.
