Christian the Lion (The Lion Who Thought He Was People)
by Bill Travers
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Anthony Bourke, George Adamson, James Hill, John Rendall, Terence AdamsonDirector: Bill Travers
Primary Contributor: Bill Travers
Primary Contributor: Virginia McKenna
DVD: Region Code 0
Audio: English (Unknown)
Format: Color, Full Screen, NTSC
Running Time: 87 minutes
Audience Rating: G (General Audience)
Studio: HSV
Product features:
- DVD
- Region Free
- Digitally Mastered
Movie Reviews of Christian the Lion (The Lion Who Thought He Was People)
Movie Review: Great. Moving.
Summary: 5 Stars
I agree wholeheartedly that this is a great DVD. The entire thing, particularly of course "the Reunion," is very moving. What makes it so moving is the love, not only the love from the men toward Christian, but especially that of the much deeper, much more intense love that Christian felt for them. We humans have always considered ourselves as having a monopoly on pretty much everything, including emotions, in relation to the rest of the planet's inhabitants, but if you've ever had a relationship with an animal involving complete trust and communication (yes, communication, one that can be much better than even with fellow human beings), and you were willing to be open-minded and honest with yourself, you would have to conclude, I feel, that we don't begin to understand the almost infinite depth of love that animals are capable of feeling. This recognition would be especially acute if you've at some point lost the relationship, the animal.
In any event, as rewarding as Christian's story is, it is but one small aspect in the overall treasure of the lives, both human and animal, as covered by Joy Adamson and George Adamson, in their respective books. Years before I saw this movie, I had read all of their books, beginning with Joy's Born Free, and subsequently through Elsa's "children," then about Pippa and Penny, followed by George's books and his almost selfless dedication to his lions. Both Joy and George are exceptional writers, although the style of each is rather quite unique from that of the other. Both are as well exceptional in their understanding of animals, in their observations and interpretations of those observations, in their intuition, in their empathy for fellow creatures without crossing the thin line into anthropomorphism. While their work has received criticism through the years as lacking scientific empiricism and detachment (which they have never claimed to possess), if "legitimate scientists" had a tenth of the insight of the Adamsons, I daresay that we, well, the entire planet really, would be considerably better off than where we are now, on the precipice of the wholesale extinction of vast numbers of species, including our own.
Summary of Christian the Lion (The Lion Who Thought He Was People)
CHRISTIAN THE LION is the story of a zoo-born lion cub purchased by two young men one Christmas at Harrod's Department store. They hand-raised the cub in London until he grew so large they knew he couldn't remain in London. This wonderful documentary was produced by the makers of "Born Free" to finance Christian's journey from England to east Africa and his introduction to life in the wild. It chronicles not only this major change in his life, but also the lasting and loving bond formed with his human "family." Clips from this film have circulated on the internet showing the remarkable and touching reunion of Christian with the men who raised him as a cub. The clips have also appeared on several TV shows.Similar DVD Movies
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