First time ever to do a movie review but occasionally one stumbles across something so emotive that not only will change your life but also must be shared and taught to generations to come.
The award winning National Geographic Entertainment film “The Last Lions” by filmmakers Dereck and Beverly Joubert is a story of a lioness called Ma di Tau (Mother of Lions) that over a period of a few years, battles to mentor and protect her cubs in the realities of nature. While this film is certainly not Disney fare for young children, others will find it very educational and one that will move them repeatedly from tears to cheers as their journey through the “circle of life” unfolds.
Personally, I was spellbound by the beauty of the images, music, narration (by Jeremy Irons) and drama of the story so beautifully put together by the Jouberts. The African filmmakers “weave their dramatic storytelling and breathtaking, up-close footage around a resonating question: Are Ma di Tau and her young to be among the last lions? Or will we as humans, having seen how tough, courageous and poignant their lives in the wild are, be moved to make a difference?”
The entire story or drama (as opposed to a documentary film) is a gripping real-life saga that illuminates how nature works in the wild and how the future of their bloodlines are impacted. It is no wonder that the film garnered award winning acclaim from their peers. Top movie critics rate the movie 4.5 stars.
I found the movie as part of my preparation for our next trip to Africa. It was very sobering that my great grandchildren will likely not get to see the magnificent king of the jungle run wild as current population trajectories would seem to indicate that the last surviving lions will only be found in zoos. What a horrible tragedy that would be. For me, I am moved to make a difference as the Joubert’s hoped. First, I plan to educate my own grandchildren on the dilemma and hope to one day maybe bring them to Africa to see first hand how we as humans must act now to protect the “wonder of it all”. And I will assist the specific groups charged with changing the dynamics so the Lions can once again have a future in the wild.
The movie is available on Apple TV, Netflix and iTunes or by purchase through National Geographic.
Take a look at the film. I would be surprised if you were not touched by it.
Steve
