Growing up as a child of the sixties it seemed that every
year we were required to watch NATURE’S HALF ACRE, the classic Disney
documentary about nature. It was interesting the first time but after
repetitive viewings as a child my interest waned. Now as an adult I can
appreciate what was being done with this and the other movies that were a part
of what’s known as the Disney True Life Adventures.
I think that the interest in these movies led to the rise of
the nature documentaries that followed. In the sixties we grew up with periodic
adventures of Jacque Cousteau at sea as well as a ton of National Geographic
specials that took us around the world. For most it was our second glimpse at
the wonder of nature having been exposed to the Disney films. Fortunately that
history continues.
BORN IN CHINA takes us to the Far East and the world of
three animals native to that country. The
first is a snow leopard raising her two cubs on one of the most desolate areas
found. Her coloring helping her blend in with her surroundings helps but still
doesn’t account for the shortage of game to hunt and thus take care of her
family. An intrusion by another set of snow leopards makes things even more
difficult.
On a somewhat lighter note is the tale of a golden snubbed nose
monkey, a young male discovering that he’s not the child anymore as his mother
has just had another baby, a girl this time. Not receiving the attention he
once did, he wanders off to be with a group of other males until danger calls
him back to his family.
The third animal is the cuddliest looking of the three, a
panda bear and her cub. The lifestyle of the bears is relaxed enough to seem
catatonic at times, but there is more humor found in their story than in the
rest. Add to that the adorable nature of the panda as well as their being less
danger than with the other two animals and it adds some relief here.
All of these stories are presented with some of the most
amazing photography to be found on film. These are situations culled from
reality and not some stage set up in Hollywood. The situations offer themselves
as they are filmed allowing for more real life stories to be told than could be
invented. The patience it would take to film these subjects while remaining
some safe distance shows the amount of improvement that has taken place when it
comes to equipment used.
It is also interesting to get a glimpse of a world that most
of us will never have the opportunity to see firsthand. Even those who might
make a trip to China will have little access (or deep desire) to venture into
the deep forest or the mountainous regions found here. As much as the scenes
depicting the major cities of China that we’re accustomed to on TV, we now get
to see the beauty of its land as well.
All that being said the movie may be a tad slow for adults
as it combines humorous narration to what we are watching. I’m fearful of its
interest for children as well. While we grew up mesmerized by the natural
wonder we saw in films like this years ago, have children grown so jaded that
this will bore them to tears? In a land of non-stop multi-media opportunities,
of streaming video, plentiful access to video games and cell phones offering
YouTube, will kids be willing to sit through a movie like this?
The best answer is don’t give them the option. Realize how
important it is that they be exposed to films like this, to learn about the
world outside of their block. Let them know the importance of nature, not to
create the next bio-activists but to at least appreciate what the world has to
offer. That is perhaps the greatest legacy a film like this has to offer. It
makes it one worth taking the time to watch, especially with your family.
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