Virunga (2014)

A team of brave individuals risk their lives to protect the last mountain gorillas.

Director:

Orlando von Einsiedel

Writer:

Orlando von Einsiedel

Stars:

André Bauma, Emmanuel de Merode, Mélanie Gouby

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 20 wins & 24 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
André Bauma	...	Himself (gorilla caretaker)
Emmanuel de Merode	...	Himself (Virunga National Park)
Mélanie Gouby	...	Herself (freelance journalist)
Rodrigue Mugaruka Katembo	...	Himself (Virunga National Park)
Vianney Kazarama	...	Himself (M23 rebel spokesman)

Storyline

In the forested depths of eastern Congo lies Virunga National Park, one of the most bio-diverse places in the world and home to the last of the mountain gorillas. In this wild, but enchanted environment, a small and embattled team of park rangers - including an ex-child soldier turned ranger, a carer of orphan gorillas and a Belgian conservationist - protect this UNESCO world heritage site from armed militia, poachers and the dark forces struggling to control Congo's rich natural resources. When the newly formed M23 rebel group declares war in May 2012, a new conflict threatens the lives and stability of everyone and everything they've worked so hard to protect.

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Plot Keywords:

gorilla | nature | national park | 

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Taglines:

Consider This. Only 880 Mountain Gorillas Remain in the World.

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Genres:

Documentary | War

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

UK Congo

Language:

English French Swahili

Release Date:

7 November 2014 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Company Credits

Production Co:

Grain Media, Violet Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

The tenth Netflix original documentary.

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Quotes

André Bauma: You must justify why you are on this earth - gorillas justify why I am here, they are my life. So if it is about dying, I will die for the gorillas.

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Connections

Featured in The Oscars (2015)

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Soundtracks

We Will Not Go
Music & Lyrics by J. Ralph
Performed by Salif Keita, Youssou N'Dour, Fally Ipupa, & J. Ralph

User Reviews

Beautiful and hard-hitting documentary about the battle to save Africa's oldest National Park

Virunga is a stunning film, part nature documentary, and part gritty exposé of the realities of life on the ground in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a country that has been torn apart by conflict for thirty years.

Director Orlando von Einsiedel does an incredible job at telling a complex story - documenting the beauty and remarkable vitality of Virunga National Park, alongside a developing story of corruption and greed, as it is revealed that a British oil company, Soco International, has been exploring for oil with the park's boundaries.

The film features remarkable characters, from the gentle and fatherly gorilla carer Andre Bauma, through to the fearless French journalist Melanie Gouby, alongside the remarkable rangers who put their lives on to protect Congo's natural heritage.

To make this film even more engaging, the issues at its heart are still very much relevant, and even though oil company Soco agreed in June 2014 to halt exploration the park, the fight is still not over. I urge you to watch this film, and educate yourself on its surrounding campaign. This is not a story which should be forgotten.