Movies & Documentaries
DOCUMENTARIES
Blackfish tells the story of Tilikum, an orca at SeaWorld that was responsible for the deaths of three SeaWorld employees. The documentary focuses on the dangers and consequences of keeping orcas in captivity. It reports on the capture and training methods used to take orcas from the wild and create a “routine” to entertain the public. Tilikum sadly died of a bacterial infection in 2016.
Blood Lions uncover the realities of the multi-million dollar predator breeding and canned lion hunting industries in South Africa. This industry is a huge problem and last year alone over 800 captive lions were shot in South Africa.
Cowspiracy: The impact of livestock production on the planet is too often underestimated and overlooked. In fact, many environmental advocates are wary of even considering the enormous amount of greenhouse gases this industry creates because of the unrelenting power and influence of the animal agriculture industry.
Gods in Shackles: Gods in Shackles is an epic documentary that reveals the dark side of the southern Indian state of Kerala’s glamorous cultural festivals where temple elephants are exploited for profit under the guise of culture and religion.
Last Days of Ivory: The illegal ivory trade is the single-handedly leading the elephant population to extinction. Every 15 minutes an elephant is poached for their ivory. Given these statistics, it has been estimated that the African elephant will be extinct from the wild within the next two decades. Last Days of Ivory, looks into how this violence against elephants is tied to global terrorism and other crimes. Many people do not recognize that when they purchase ivory, they are funding atrocities against both humans and animals.
Mission Blue is about legendary oceanographer, marine biologist, environmentalist and National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Sylvia Earle, and her campaign to create a global network of protected marine sanctuaries. With oil gushing into the Gulf of Mexico, Sylvia and an environmental dream team race around the world trying to defend her ‘Hope Spots’.
Night on earth: This Netflix wildlife documentary series is based on one technological feat: night-vision. “Night on Earth” highlights the nocturnal activities of the animal kingdom and observes the interactions between flora and fauna, from dusk to dawn. Using low-light cameras able to film in ultra-high definition, colour and moonlight; as well as thermal cameras, the team was able to capture some unique images.
Racing Extinction: This new film from Oceanic Preservation Society (OPS), looks into our world’s current crisis of mass species extinctions. Chronicling the many human drivers of species loss, including climate change, habitat destruction, the industrial food system, and the illegal wildlife trade, OPS opens our eyes to the realities of the planet’s sixth period of mass extinction. While the premise of the film might be foreboding, their message is one of hope and redemption.
Sea of Shadows: When Mexican drug cartels and Chinese traffickers join forces to poach the rare totoaba fish in the Sea of Cortez, their deadly methods threaten virtually all marine life in the region, including the most elusive and endangered whale species on Earth, the vaquita porpoise. “Sea of Shadows” follows a team of dedicated scientists, high-tech conservationists, investigative journalists and courageous undercover agents as well as the Mexican Navyas, sho put their lives on the line to save the last remaining vaquitas and bring a vicious international crime syndicate to justice.
Seaspiracy: Seaspiracy is a shocking documentary film about the environmental impact of fishing. The film examines various human impacts on marine life and advocates for ending fish consumption.
Sharkwater: Sharks do not share the emotive faces and cuddly pups of our fellow mammals, so conservation efforts have always been hampered by our innate fear of these massive apex predators. But shark conservation is a serious issue, and the shark fin trade is serious money. Rob Stewart’s beautiful and moving film manages to overcome the empathy divide between humans and sharks, and helped set off a movement that directly led to a worldwide ban on shark finning.
The Cove tells the amazing story of how a team of activists, film-makers and free divers embarked on a covert mission to document the truth of a hidden cove in Taiji, Japan. It highlight the shocking truth of dolphin hunting and how dolphins are caught for aquariums and marine parks around the world and how those which aren’t the right size or gender to perform for entertainment are slaughtered and sold for meat, even though they contain dangerous levels of mercury which could cause poisoning. It’s reported that approximately 23,000 dolphins and porpoises are killed there each year.
The Ivory Game examines the ivory trade and examines the poaching of elephants in Africa in order to feed the demand for ivory in China and Hong Kong. Undercover filming exposes the extent of the problem and the documentary warns that if governments do not take action now or in the near future, elephants will face extinction by 2030.
Virunga focuses on the conservation work of park rangers within the Congo’s Virunga National Park. The park is one of the most biologically diverse areas on the planet, and is home to the world’s critically endangered mountain gorillas. The rangers are fighting to protect the park from war, poaching, and the threat of oil exploration.
Movies
Born Free: This wondrous true adventure from the best-selling novel about a woman who raised a lioness and eventually set her free is beautifully photographed on the vast, golden savannas of central Africa. When game warden George Adamson (Bill Travers) is forced to kill a menacing lion and lioness, he and his wife Joy (Virginia McKenna) adopt their three cubs. Two are sent off to zoos, but the third is kept – a female they name Elsa – to which they have become particularly attached. When Elsa becomes a full grown lioness, the Adamsons realise that she must be set free and taught to survive on her own. A year later the Adamsons return to the savanna and are surprised by a very special welcome from their old friend.
Duma: This movie is based on a true story How it was with Dooms by Carol Cawthra Hopcraft and her son Xan Hopcraft. Duma is set in the South African countryside and revolves around a rescued orphaned cheetah cub. A young boy, Xan, and his family decide to take care of the cub (naming him Duma) to later release him into the wild.
Whale Rider (2002): This is the fictional story of a Maori girl’s path in the world. It focuses on her relationship and understanding of nature and of the southern right whales who are so important and carry great symbolism to her and her entire tribe. When Pai saves the whales by leading them safely out to sea, she inherits her leadership role despite it being reserved traditionally for men. Nature’s wisdom prevails.