The true story of Dian Fossey is something that should have been so easy to make into a great and intelligent film. The petty politics of science and academia, the development of the devil's deal that is African eco-tourism, the sociology of our nearest relatives - a complex web of interactions that ultimately lead to the mysterious murder of the protagonist. But this was way too deep for the movie machinery to handle.
Hollywood does not understand scientists, their passions, their pettiness, their motivations - so it just ignores this and turns Fossey into a Kurtz-like figure and fabricated a unloved woman sub-plot to explain her descent into darkness.
Hollywood couldn't be bothered to try to portray the intricate politics between Fossey, her funders, her students and the Africans with whom she worked. Instead we get the standard, if slightly more enlightened white man's burthen depiction.
As for the gorillas - there was no need to explore, however briefly, some of the insights that Fossey obtained about gorilla society and why these creatures deserve protection. It was far easier to just create a van der Villain figure that murdered gorillas and kidnapped cute babies.
No, this wasn't supposed to be a documentary but this shouldn't have been turned into a Grizzly Adams infomercial to save ape babies either.
As for positives, the photography was stunning and the gorillas were very touching and human-like. However, there is a great and fascinating story that could have provided great insight the science and politics of the conservation movement. Unfortunately, this film didn't tell it.
Hollywood does not understand scientists, their passions, their pettiness, their motivations - so it just ignores this and turns Fossey into a Kurtz-like figure and fabricated a unloved woman sub-plot to explain her descent into darkness.
Hollywood couldn't be bothered to try to portray the intricate politics between Fossey, her funders, her students and the Africans with whom she worked. Instead we get the standard, if slightly more enlightened white man's burthen depiction.
As for the gorillas - there was no need to explore, however briefly, some of the insights that Fossey obtained about gorilla society and why these creatures deserve protection. It was far easier to just create a van der Villain figure that murdered gorillas and kidnapped cute babies.
No, this wasn't supposed to be a documentary but this shouldn't have been turned into a Grizzly Adams infomercial to save ape babies either.
As for positives, the photography was stunning and the gorillas were very touching and human-like. However, there is a great and fascinating story that could have provided great insight the science and politics of the conservation movement. Unfortunately, this film didn't tell it.