SYNOPSIS:
An inspiring look at how one family's connection to each other and their surroundings is a model of resilience and fortitude for us all. The story features the coming of age of a young meerkat pup, Kolo growing up in the Kalahari desert. Shot using ground-breaking techniques, this dramatised documentary is a one-of-a-kind presentation from The Weinstein Company and the BBC, the world's pre-eminent nature filmmakers.
MOVIE REVIEW:
Paul Newman narrates this documentary that follows a family of meerkats in one of the challenging areas on the Earth to live in- the Kalahari Desert. Out there, temperatures can reach a scorching 120°F (or 45°C) during the day and plunge to 68°F (or 20°C) during the night. But that’s not the only hazard that the clan has to contend with.
There are also eagles in the air, snakes on the ground, and even rival meerkats trying to muscle their way into the clan’s territory. Indeed, survival can be a killer out there in the wild- especially if you’re a young meerkat pup. To describe the challenges that the meerkats have to face each day of their lives, director James Honeyborne uses the coming-of-age story of an adventurous and bold pup Kolo.
To be sure, this is a dramatised narrative so what you’re actually seeing are in fact different meerkats at different stages of their lives. Not that it really matters- unless you’re like me, wondering how the filmmakers managed to recognize one member of the family apart from the other. Though recognition isn’t one of them, there are many other aspects of this documentary that are truly marvellous.
During their six-month shoot in the desert, Honeyborne and his crew have managed to capture many impressive shots of the lives and habits of the meerkats. One wonders how they were able to capture the meerkats burrowing through their large underground networks; or lying asleep huddled together in their underground habitat; or chased by a snake through their underground tunnels. Just as remarkable are their shots above ground- closeups of a lion clawing the ground to get at the meerkats, or the eagle swooping down from the air after its prized prey on the ground.
Such are the awe-inspiring moments in this gorgeously-shot documentary that’s mostly about survival and the need to fight for the right to live. Surely, it is a stirring portrayal of the tenacity and will of these 25 to 35 cm tall mammals whose spirits stand tall and strong even though their size and height (and underground habits) may seem otherwise.
And the late Paul Newman does a nice job narrating the story of Kolo and his family. The actor’s expressive voice gives the scenes of danger an added touch of peril, communicating the scale and urgency of the numerous life-threatening situations. The film also benefits immensely by the absorbing score by Sarah Class which is just as effective in adding to the tension.
It is through observing the lives of these small creatures that the film communicates a powerful message- that life is a treasure worth fighting for. This is no less than an inspiring journey that will make you appreciate the beauty of nature, the beauty of nature’s creatures and the beauty of life itself.
SPECIAL FEATURES :
This Code 3 DVD contains no extra features.
AUDIO/VISUAL:
The disc’s visual transfer is acceptable and the late Paul Newman lends his respectable voice to this inspiring tale of fortitude and strength from one of nature’s unassuming creatures.
MOVIE RATING:
 
DVD
RATING :
Review
by Gabriel Chong
Posted on 24 August 2009
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