Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersIndependent Spirit AwardsWomen's History MonthSXSWSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
Sign In
New Customer? Create account
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
IMDbPro

An Apology to Elephants

  • 2013
  • TV-PG
  • 40m
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
554
YOUR RATING
An Apology to Elephants (2013)
DocumentaryShortDrama

Narrated by Lily Tomlin, this documentary short traces mankind's long history with elephants and explores the many problems that arise when they are brought to live in captivity in zoos and ... Read allNarrated by Lily Tomlin, this documentary short traces mankind's long history with elephants and explores the many problems that arise when they are brought to live in captivity in zoos and circuses.Narrated by Lily Tomlin, this documentary short traces mankind's long history with elephants and explores the many problems that arise when they are brought to live in captivity in zoos and circuses.

  • Director
    • Amy Schatz
  • Writer
    • Jane Wagner
  • Stars
    • Lily Tomlin
    • Pat Derby
    • Colleen Kinzley
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    8.0/10
    554
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Amy Schatz
    • Writer
      • Jane Wagner
    • Stars
      • Lily Tomlin
      • Pat Derby
      • Colleen Kinzley
    • 4User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Primetime Emmy
      • 2 wins total

    Photos146

    An Apology to Elephants (2013)
    An Apology to Elephants (2013)
    Rose McCoy in An Apology to Elephants (2013)
    An Apology to Elephants (2013)
    An Apology to Elephants (2013)
    An Apology to Elephants (2013)
    An Apology to Elephants (2013)
    An Apology to Elephants (2013)
    An Apology to Elephants (2013)
    An Apology to Elephants (2013)
    An Apology to Elephants (2013)
    An Apology to Elephants (2013)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Lily Tomlin
    Lily Tomlin
    • Self - Narrator
    • (voice)
    Pat Derby
    Pat Derby
    • Self (PAWS)
    Colleen Kinzley
    Colleen Kinzley
    • Self (Oakland Zoo)
    Jeff Kinzley
    Jeff Kinzley
    • Self (Oakland Zoo)
    Ross MacPhee
    Ross MacPhee
    • Self
    Rose McCoy
    Rose McCoy
    • Self (activist)
    Cynthia Moss
    Cynthia Moss
    • Self (Amboseli Trust for Elephants)
    Joel Parrott
    Joel Parrott
    • Self (Oakland Zoo)
    Katy Payne
    Katy Payne
    • Self (Elephant Listening Project)
    Joyce Poole
    Joyce Poole
    • Self (ElephantVoices)
    Mel Richardson
    Mel Richardson
    • Self (veterinarian)
    Ed Stewart
    Ed Stewart
    • Self (PAWSsanctuaries)
    • Director
      • Amy Schatz
    • Writer
      • Jane Wagner
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

    At the Heart of Gold: Inside the USA Gymnastics Scandal
    8.0
    At the Heart of Gold: Inside the USA Gymnastics Scandal
    50 Children: The Rescue Mission of Mr. and Mrs. Kraus
    7.6
    50 Children: The Rescue Mission of Mr. and Mrs. Kraus
    4 Little Girls
    7.8
    4 Little Girls
    One Nation Under Dog
    7.6
    One Nation Under Dog
    Meth Storm
    6.6
    Meth Storm
    A Good Job: Stories of the FDNY
    7.8
    A Good Job: Stories of the FDNY
    Indictment: The McMartin Trial
    7.6
    Indictment: The McMartin Trial
    Broken Child
    7.5
    Broken Child
    Warning: This Drug May Kill You
    7.2
    Warning: This Drug May Kill You
    Coma
    7.6
    Coma
    Life According to Sam
    8.1
    Life According to Sam
    Fists of Freedom: The Story of the '68 Summer Games
    7.6
    Fists of Freedom: The Story of the '68 Summer Games

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Quotes

      Himself (veterinarian): What is the problem with the elephant in the room? The room. That's the problem. Elephants don't belong in barns. They don't belong in rooms. Their body evolved to be moving. They need to move. They don't need to stand still; they don't need to stand still on concrete and hard surfaces.

    • Connections
      Featured in 2013 Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards (2013)

    User reviews4

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    Deeply Moving.
    Elephants are one of the most majestic and intelligent of all animals, and their familial and social connections rival ours.

    Yet here we are, the cruel humans, beating and bull-hooking these gentle giants to within an inch of their life so they can learn to perform tricks for us.

    Watching this movie was hard. Very hard, even for someone like me who knew about the tremendous abuse these elephants suffer since the time they were born and tore away from their mothers, till they die a beaten animal around 40 years age, half their normal life span. Might as well die early - why live this way?

    But watch it, you all must. And it will make you think - and if you are someone with empathy, compassion to animals, you will be hard pressed not to be angry and ticked off. And sad. And resolve not to ever patronize a circus or even a zoo. Yes, zoos are culpable as well.

    A great documentary.
    helpful•16
    2
    • fbook-arp
    • May 18, 2013

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 12, 2013 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Una disculpa a los elefantes
    • Production company
      • HBO Documentary Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      40 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    An Apology to Elephants (2013)
    Top Gap
    By what name was An Apology to Elephants (2013) officially released in Canada in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2023 by IMDb.com, Inc.