The Elephant Whisperer
Movie review of an Oscar Winning Short Film from India 2023
The Elephant Whisperers, a short Documentary which has won the Best Documentary Short Film Oscar for The 95th Academy Awards in 2023; is a profoundly beautiful bonding and love story between Bowman and Bellie, both single adults, and a baby elephant adopted by them. The baby elephant’s mother had been tragically killed earlier as a background to the movie. Leaving the tiny baby elephant on his own. First found by Bowman and brought to an elephant-care park in the region of Mudumalai National Park in southern India. The baby elephant is named Raghu. Bellie joins Bowman in the care of tiny Raghu. At first, Raghu is not expected to live because he was so severely malnourished and injured, it takes the love and caring of these two special human souls to nurse him back to health.
Every day it shows them caring for Rahgu and just like a child, he responds to their love and nurturing of him. He portrays the same traits as a human child through his antics. They show just how much love and caring they give Raghu on a daily basis. From his baths at the river, feeding him, brushing his tusks, playing with him, and lying down to nap with him. Rahgu has his own dwelling to sleep at night and Bowman and Bellie, just like any parents, are watchful to make sure he is safe.
You learn of the tragic death of Bellie’s husband earlier by a Bengal Tiger and loss of her daughter as well. You see how much she needs Raghu, just as he needs her as a surrogate mother. She speaks of her fears of the jungle surrounding the park, which is understandable under the conditions. She also speaks of walking barefoot in the jungle, which is their custom as to show glory to God.
In the lush area where they reside, elephants are seen as equal to God and caring for them is a religious experience. It is a cultural experience that you won’t soon forget. It also shows other animals that live in the region: monkeys, Bengal tigers, tiny lizards, and exotic birds.
Watching Raghu eat the coconut meals prepared daily for him and watching him spit out the parts he didn’t like; reminded me so much of feeding my own children at that age. His playfulness with Bowman and Bellie is like watching any parents with their child. There are moments in this film that make you laugh out loud seeing them together and moments when you are sad and you want to cry. I did both before this endearing story was over.
After several years together as a family, Bowman, Bellie, and Raghu are joined by another baby elephant who they name Ammu. Ammu was tragically was lost from her mother when wildfires burn freely across the land. Many adult elephants die as a result of these fires and many baby elephants are lost after being separated from their mothers and the herd. Sadly the baby elephants lost also die, but the people like Belly and Bowman and others in the park try to save as many as possible.
Just like normal human siblings, there is at first a rivalry between Raghu and Ammu, both vying for the attention of their “parents”, Bowman and Bellie. And just like most siblings they grow to love each other in time making them inseparable. Once again, Bowman and Bellie begin the process of nurturing the baby, Ammu. Bellie introduces you to her granddaughter who learns to care and love the baby elephants.
As time goes on, through the bond formed with Raghu and Ammu, their children; Bowman and Bellie fall in love and marry. A beautiful wedding ceremony is held. The wedding ceremony is attended the people, who live in the park, and Raghu and Ammu, who are also dressed with flowers and other symbols in chalk.
It also shows the other members of the village caring for the elephants and how the caring for the elephants is a tradition passed from generation to generation, continuing the love and caring for God’s creatures, the elephants.
In time, as Raghu becomes healthy and grows, Bowman and Bellie are informed that Raghu will be taken from them as a next stage of his upbringing and this is when the fear sets in for me. Wondering if Raghu may not adjust to his being taken from the care of his parents. It shows Ammu trying to break free to follow his elder sibling Raghu and leaves you feeling heartbroken; wondering how they will all survive this separation. Bellie resorts to depression as when she lost her own daughter, but realizes she still has Ammu to care for and Bowman to love.
At first Ammu stops drinking her milk, vital in maintaining her health. In time they all adjust to Raghu’s leaving. However, it leaves the viewer wondering if Raghu is alright. Then you find Raghu is still in the other area of the park, and whenever he sees Bowman or Bellie, he still runs to them as their own child would. Bellie loses her fear of the jungle in time, making her a stronger woman and a mother to Ammu.
To date, Bowman and Bellie are the first couple to successfully raise two baby elephants in captivity. Quite a remarkable feat in itself.
The cinematography is one of the most impressive I have ever encountered in a film. It made me want to travel to this location as soon as I could, as to not miss the Garden of Eden it appears to be, and form a bond with these lovely people and the elephants.
Five years in the making of this sweet story, the Director Kartiki Gonsalves followed this family and hundreds of hours of filming; cut down to only forty-one minutes, showing you the bonds between man and these amazing creatures. It made me crave more of the story.
I would give this movie ten stars out of ten and suggest you watch it more than once to catch all that happens in the lives of this family.
In a time when the world can seem ugly, this “tiny” epic film may restore your faith in humanity and let you know that love is always the answer. These gentle giants entrusted to the care of these endearing people are enchanting to watch. I would recommend this movie to not only adults but to children of every age; for who doesn’t love a baby elephant?
For those, who are interested, the movie is available for viewing on Netflix. The Official Trailer is available on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0J0b_OVa9w
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Written by Rebecca Lyle, USA
