Over eight years of filming in the northern wildernesses of Botswana, the Jouberts have now released this follow up to their famous Emmy Award winning film Eternal Enemies; Lions and Hyenas.
A young pride of lions sets out on a grand adventure, leaving their safe home range and walking west into the unknown. When they finally arrive at a water hole, it is a vision of paradise, except the huge bull elephants that dominate stop them from drinking. Their first kill, a kudu, secures them a place in this territory but this strange status quo changes one day. Two huge bull elephants lock tusks in a battle. One elephant collapses and the lions come out of the shadows. What happens next changes the course of nature in this area and affects the relationship between these two ultimate of enemies as the lions develop techniques for hunting the largest animals in their range.
The sensitive narration of Jeremy Irons sets the mood for this inspired film that blends scenes from nature that have never been witnessed before with a symphonic film score and poetry, creating a surreal experience. The Jouberts understand the nature of wilderness and wild things, and they reach deep inside themselves to help us experience and understand it the way they do in this film.
Awards:
Nominated for multiple Emmy’s 2003 (USA)
Jackson Hole Wildlife Film festival for best sound award (USA)
A finalist at the Japanese Wildlife Film festival