We can sometimes be blinded by the wonders in the world, especially if we’re on holiday. We want to experience things that we wouldn’t anywhere else. This would involve seeing views, visiting landmarks and interacting with the animals of that exotic place. We don’t stop to think if it is right, we just want to say we’ve been there and done that. Ashley Bell’s film not only opens up our eyes to truth but also doesn’t hold back. From the brutal and uncompromising beginning to the hopeful end that things can change for the better.
The hard hitting exposition introduces us to the cruelty inflicted upon Asian elephants who work in entertainment and in trekking camps. The animals go through brutal bloody abuse in what is known as ‘the crush box’, literally breaking their spirit and beating them into submission. As well as this more than rude awakening, we are introduced to Through icon graphics we are given the context to why we need elephants and how endangered the Asian elephants are, leading us into conservationist Lek Chailert and her story. Lek’s family owned a trekking camp and subsequently disowned her for revealing the truth of the animal abuse to the press and the world. Lek’s mission has been to care and rescue as many elephants and safely bring them to her elephant sanctuary and others like hers.
The story of the film, after the much needed and devastating informative beginning, Bell returns to Thailand to be part of a rescue. Rather than a covert operation, the trekking camp owner has agreed not only to let one of his elephants be rescued, but has agreed to the filming as well. Noi Na is a 70-year-old elephant who wear her years of abuse, mapped out all over her body. Getting this elephant across Thailand, in 48 hours, proves to be far more dangerous than anticipated.
Bell’s documentary not only shares the amazing work of Lek and the lives of her rescued elephants but it also informs without feeling like the audience is being preached at. The story naturally unfolds gently and isn’t given the soft-focus treatment thankfully, making sure every moment, not matter how honest is not orchestrated for the sake of the film. One particular moment, amongst the tears and hope post rescue, is when one of the elephants at the sanctuary wants attention and chases one of the cameramen, wanting a close up. The painfully truth at the start is what makes us sit-up and take notice of the plight of the Asian elephant, Lek and her work as well as the rescue gives us the heart of what changes are possible. It was also pleasing to see that after the happy ending we all hoped for, is a message from Bell herself, asking us to make a difference by not going to these shows where elephants are kept or go to the trekking camps, this is now a difference can be made.
A brilliant documentary, full of emotion and passion at all the right moments, its hard not to fall in love with these animals.
To find out more about the film and where you can watch it, head over to the film’s website.