There’s a false impression concerning documentaries, and extra particularly, documentaries that painting a state of affairs having to do with environmental activism, and ecology associated topics. Yes, they must be celebrated as they’re extraordinarily vital statements to think about by audiences who maybe aren’t as linked with present issues.
However, they nonetheless needs to be nicely made. Their topic doesn’t mechanically make them good motion pictures. You want a script, a route. You must put collectively a message and format it in a means that’s cinematic. Otherwise, why not make a information report?
This is a threat in Elephant Refugees, a movie with priceless footage and much more attention-grabbing topic. When a group turns into infested with elephants attempting to get a drop of water anyway attainable, they notice they need to do one thing to maintain management of the state of affairs. This is a distant place: Moller household’s bush lodge, Elephant Sands in Botswana, the place elephant poaching grew to become unlawful years in the past.
Of course, the footage exhibits elephants interacting with a setting that’s not quite common outdoors of a safari. They have even discovered easy methods to open taps. It’s the blissful side of the state of affairs. But there’s extra to the story. The dynamics of elephant herds are altering and the group can’t sustain with this shift in nature. It’s terribly dramatic.
In this argument the movie takes place. It’s a possibility to be taught extra about inevitable neighbors. The household who runs the place aren’t determined, however they appear preoccupied with how issues are going and management is scarce. It’s ironic to hold out an ecology-based message when the invasion is inflicting points in how the enterprise stays afloat. This turns into clear when a pool is ruined by the elephants presence and what they depart behind.
In conclusion, the footage is superb. It’s the rationale why the movie exists. It’s the proof of an announcement that maybe isn’t nicely translated ultimately. The purpose is reached, and the viewers learns a couple of state of affairs that’s related, however Elephant Refugees works higher when it doesn’t attempt to be one thing else than what it should be. This is an informative documentary about one thing very curious that we have to observe, however I don’t imagine it can keep in your thoughts completely.
Nevertheless, wild elephants opening a faucet or reaching for the bathroom, and ingesting the water? Oh sure. That’s gold.
Founder of Screentology. Member of the OFCS. RT Certified Critic
Dog dad.