AFRICA'S ELEPHANT KINGDOM
SYNOPSIS:
Large groups of elephants move purposefully across the plains.
One comes closer. He is massive, his weathered, craggy hide
testament to the almost sixty years he has spent on earth. He is
the Old Bull, our storyteller, and it is through his eyes that
the film unfolds. He tells us of the layers of connection within
elephant society. Babies to mothers, mothers to families,
families to clans. Heading up each family is the Matriarch - the
Keeper of Memory, who protects the family when threatened. The
matriarch of his family is his cousin, Torn Ear, a wise and
cunning female who is fifty seven years old. She watches over
forty elephants but has the most trouble with her grandson -
Little Bull. Together with his cousin Keekay, he’s
constantly in and out of harmless mischief. This is a journey
across vast stretches of land in search of food and water - a
story of survival.
"We are immersed in Africa’s unique landscape, where
with incredulity and wonder, we experience the magic of the
Elephant Kingdom. The power of the world’s biggest and
strongest of beasts on the world’s largest screen is
overwhelming, as unforgettable images of elephants in their
natural habitat are magnified. Filmed over a six months period,
the journey we share with these gentle giants is one that traces
a family travelling through drought, rain, experiencing the
wonders of birth, devastations of death and the rituals of
mating. Imagine the entire screen detailing the elephant’s
unique skin, the imposing foot stamping in the dust, the soulful
eye blinking slowly in the rich amber sunset. The rich baritone
narration of Avery Brooks’ from the point of view of the
elephant is effective, while stirring, evocative music combines
ethereal, classical and rhythmic African elements. The
cinematography is extraordinary as we witness an elephant
charging directly towards the camera, baby elephants tumbling,
playing, and most memorable of all, watch in amazement as two
elephants lock tusks and engage in an unhurried, loving kiss.
This spectacular film is a story of nature and survival in the
beauty of Kenya and the plains below the White Mountain of
Kilimanjaro. Staggering and inspiring, Africa’s Elephant
Kingdom is an unforgettable journey to a land like no other,
where sunsets are unsurpassed, and the magnificence of the
amazing elephant can be enjoyed."
Louise Keller
"This massive film is a great basic primer on the
delights and dangers of life as the world's largest land mammal.
As with many recent IMAX films, it is truly magnificent - perhaps
not as dramatically haunting as Everest, but spellbinding
nonetheless. From the opening shot of the expansive Kenya
terrain, Africa's Elephant Kingdom is a hypnotic film, a stirring
study of family coping with birth, death, famine and the
celebration of life itself. Stunningly photographed with a
beautifully evocative soundtrack to accompany the stirring
visuals, here is a film that is truly captivating and
fascinating. There are some remarkable sequences, such as an
elephant stampeding towards the camera, and the scenes of drought
and devastation are heartbreaking. This is not simply a nature
documentary, but a well developed and impeccably made film which
has a lot to say about these extraordinary creatures. It's a
remarkable work in an exciting and consistently adventurous
medium."
Paul Fischer
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CRITICAL COUNT
Favourable: 2
Unfavourable: 0
Mixed: 0
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SOFCOM MOVIE TIMES
AFRICA’S ELEPHANT KINGDOM
(G)
(US)
Documentary
DIRECTOR/ PRODUCER/ WRITER: Michael Caulfield:
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Tim Cowling
SCIENTIFIC CONSULTANT: Iain Douglas-Hamilton
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Tom Cowan
LOCATION; Amboseli National Park, Kenya
EDITOR: Kathleen Korth
MUSIC: Roger Mason
NARRATOR: Avery Brooks
RUNNING TIME: 40 minutes
AUSTRALIAN DISTRIBUTOR: IMAX
AUSTRALIAN RELEASE: June 4, 1998
FACT SHEET:
AFRICAN ELEPHANT
STATUS: Endangered
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: The
largest land mammals in the world; thick, craggy skin sparsely
covered with coarse hair; large fan-like ears; four front toes,
three hind toes; adult males are around 10 feet tall and weigh
around 12,000 pounds; adult females grow to about nine feet and
weigh 10,000 pounds.
TRUNK: An organ of touch, smell
and communication, with a tip having two finger-like lips; used
for feeding, pulling up vegetation, throwing dust, squirting
water, as a snorkel and for vocalisations; contains 150,000
muscles; can grow up to six feet long, 300 pounds, can be used as
a weapon.
TUSKS: Made of ivory, grow
continuously throughout an elephant’s life, sometimes as
much as seven inches a year; can reach 10 feet in length, 200
pounds in weight; used to dig for water and salt, mine rocks, for
protection and fighting.
HABITAT: Savannah grasslands
and forests.
RANGE: Roughly 2.2 million
square miles in Africa south of the Sahara Desert.
Video Distrib: Roadshow Entertainment
Video Release: Feb 23, 99
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