2010
USA
Big Cat Odyssey
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I haven't seen it so I don't know if the double runtime is filled with more details about the events they captured for their films or their conservationist/advocacy messaging (or if it contains new and updated information) The film was originally released in 2010. In it, they predicted lions would be extinct by 2020: <blockquote>In 50 years lions have declined from 450,000 to under 20,000 At this rate we anticipate extinction by 2020 Leopards have dropped from 700,000 to under 50,000</blockquote> Bottom line: Trophy hunters aim for the biggest, strongest males with the biggest manes because they look better hanging on their wall, essentially creating a situation where the weaklings are the ones reproducing. That's back-assward from what you want I'm hardcore on the Jouberts for their films, and sympathize with their cause, but it's not that helpful to listen to their discoursing unless you are actually going to <b>do</b> something about it. Of course that's what they hope for, and they are fully aware people don't care. If they want to make a film that shows <i>they</i> are doing something, more power to them It's 2024 and there are still some lions left on earth. I'm sure the Joubert's contributed to that, beyond making films about it. They do a lot of work on the ground Another factor, they don't mention in the 2010 version of the film, is <b>Safari Tourism</b>. It hardly existed 20 years ago. It's now a multi-billion dollar industry thanks, for the most part, to the BBC's <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0768973/"><i>Big Cat Diary</i></a> series of TV shows Most of the Joubert's work (for NGC) is in Botswana, most of the BBC's work is in the Masai Mara in Kenya. Let's hope somebody has stepped up for Tanzania and Zambia A more detailed review of the film itself that I have seen is <a href="https://letterboxd.com/sitenoise/film/big-cat-odyssey/1/">here</a> <a href="https://letterboxd.com/sitenoise/list/the-jouberts/">The Jouberts</a> <a href="https://letterboxd.com/sitenoise/list/big-cats-cream-of-the-crop/">Big Cats - Cream of the Crop</a> —————— This is the Joubert's pivot film. A retrospective of their work (up to 2010) with conservationist messaging that's loud Their real pivot is from dark and brutal to a calmer, more family friendly approach that will inform their films moving forward. As Beverly says in the doc <blockquote>Legadema turned us from filmmakers and conservationists into advocates for the big cats that don't always have the voice they need</blockquote> LOL on the part about big cats not having a voice For those who don't know, Legadema stars in the Joubert's 2007 film <a href="https://letterboxd.com/film/eye-of-the-leopard/">Eye of the Leopard</a>. There is a remarkable scene of Legadema's interactions with a day-old baby baboon that has to be <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugi4x8kZJzk">seen</a> to be believed. Seriously, it's lovely with a happy ending. Go watch it After the pivot, now when they film a "kill", instead of spending time on the kill, which can take hours but be highlighted, they tend to show just the jump and then cut to dining. Bloody lion faces are still okay. The part they don't focus on after the pivot is when lions take down prey, and one of them is trying to suffocate it with the famous throat grab, the others will start eating it alive causing it to scream in pain and wiggle about in discomfort. They want to soften the image of lions as brutal killers They still show us that lions kill and eat other animals, but they've cut back on the brutality of it. They've also moved to more heartbreaking stories about cubs. Everyone loves cubs I must point out again that the Joubert's have lived in this <a href="https://i.postimg.cc/5NjjZTBg/Home.jpg">tent</a> (albeit with a roof and a deck) in the middle of lion territory, in a swamp in the Okavango Delta for over 30 years. <a href="https://i.postimg.cc/xjvW91RT/Driveway.jpg">This</a> is their driveway, and <a href="https://i.postimg.cc/hhFj8PXG/Sights.jpg">this</a> and <a href="https://i.postimg.cc/zDTV5K6b/Lion-and-Calf.jpg">this</a> is what they can see from their deck. They aren't fucking around <a href="https://letterboxd.com/sitenoise/list/the-jouberts/">The Jouberts</a> <a href="https://letterboxd.com/sitenoise/list/big-cats-cream-of-the-crop/">Big Cats - Cream of the Crop</a> ————— First viewed in 2012 shortly after it was released and found it to be "a great retrospective of the Joubert's career", although Beverly's attempts at poetic philosophy are pretty eye-roll-y A more detailed review of a rewatch after a dozen years, and seeing the change in direction this film marked, is here - - - - - - - Great retrospective of these wonderful filmmakers' career, although Beverly's attempt's at poetic philosophy are a little eye-rolly. This is the Joubert's pivot film. A retrospective of their work with conservationist messaging that's loud (but reserved for the end so it doesn't bog down the film as a whole) But the real pivot is from dark and brutal to a calmer, more family friendly approach that will inform their films moving forward When they film a lion pride kill, say, a buffalo, instead of spending time on the kill, which can take hours but be highlighted, they tend to show us just the jump and then cut to a little dining. Bloody lion faces are still okay. The part they tend not to show as much after this pivot is when the lions take down a prey and one of them is trying to suffocate it with the famous throat grab, the others will start eating it while it's still alive causing it to scream in pain and wiggle about in discomfort Basically they'll still show us that lions kill and eat other animals but they'll cut back on the brutality of it. They'll also move to more heartbreaking stories about cubs. Everybody loves cubs Summary: For some people, studying big cats is not just a hobby, but a life's work. Following award-winning filmmakers Dereck and Beverly Joubert on their 30-year-long quest to document the behaviour of big cats in Botswana, this film brings together three decades worth of material, including extraordinary footage of hunting lions, scavenging hyenas and stealthy leopards. See firsthand the numerous changes that have led to dramatic decline of the lion population, and what needs to be done in order to ensure their survival. Live through some of the most extreme cat sequences ever captured on film. See a lion pride bring down a large buffalo, a blood feud erupt when scavenging hyenas move in on the kill and catch a glimpse of leopards who creep from the bushes to hunt and retreat into the trees before falling prey to larger killers. Beyond the blood and gore lies a stark reality: Big cats kill to live and live to kill. |
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