GORILLAS IN THE MIST
US, 1988, 129 minutes, Colour.
Sigourney Weaver, Bryan Brown, Julie Harris, Iain Glenn.
Directed by Michael Apted.
Gorillas in the Mist won Oscar nominations for Sigourney Weaver and for Maurice Jarre for his score.
Sigourney Weaver portrays Diane Fossey who, in the 1960s, went to the Congo and then Rwanda to observe the mountain gorillas and save them from extinction from poachers. The film is beautifully photographed by Australian John Seale, using Zaire, Rwanda and Kenyan locations beautifully. Diane Fossey experienced and endorsed conservation -and incidentally, the film acknowledges the contribution of the National Geographic magazine.
All is not sweetness in the film: civil war in the Congo, expulsions, traditional taboos (and Fossey is gung-ho in her U.S. presuppositions), callous slaughter of animals and, finally, Fossey herself obsessed by her mission.
Bryan Brown appears as a photographer. Julie Harris has a cameo role as a friend. The film is directed by Michael Apted (28 Up, Coal Miner's Daughter and the conservation-minded Continental Divide).
1. The true story of Diane Fossey, the portrait of Diane, conservation issues?
2. The African locations and their beauty, the animals (and make-up), stunts and special effects?
3. The title of the film, its evocations? Diane Fossey's contribution to the preservation of the gorillas?
4. Themes: nature, destruction, protection, science and philosophy, public awareness? The evolution of animal life and the relationship of humans?
5. The good, becoming and obsession? Colonial American attitudes and superior attitudes and behaviour? Consequences?
6. The initial speech and the establishment of the Leakey Foundation, the information about the gorillas, the '60s and geographical awareness, biological and anthropological awareness? Diane and the lecture, listening, trying to talk to Professor Leakey, his hesitation about her going? The plane trip, her excitement, arrival, the four-wheel drive, the porters and her selection, going alone, wanting her cases, sense of adventure and the audience sharing her going into this work? Dr Leakey and his speech, looking at Diane's credentials, hesitation, accepting her, the information, leaving? His letters and advice, the tapes? His death? The Leakey Foundation?
7. Diane and her determination, her going, arrival, reading and studying? The bond with her guide, her choosing him because of English? His not knowing how to deal with the gorillas? Learning together? Her study, their search, the futility, meeting the gorillas, her running against advice? Gathering of information and sending it?
8. The background of the civil war, the intrusion of the soldiers, the destruction of her work, their moving her out, expelling her over the border, the long trek, meeting Ros and the support, writing a letter to Dr Leakey, withdrawing it? Her guide tracking her and their beginning again together?
9. The new start, establishing a base, building the home? Patience, staying with the gorillas, stalking them, learning and noting, more and more at home, close to them, mimicking them, their climbing all over her and being comfortable with her? Her personalising them with names? The development of her skill, love for the animals?
10. The poachers, their traditional stalking of the animals, the zoo people, the attacks, the nature of the economy needing animal sales for providing food and shelter for people? Diane and the bargain with the government official? Healing the gorilla and letting it go to the zoo? Bargaining for trained guides for the park? (And the gorilla dying, a year after going to the zoo?) Local Africans, stalking the animals, their spearing them? The background of black magic? Diane at the grave, her tampering, her attitudes? The theory about the joining of souls?
11. The Africans and her hair, seeing her as a witch, her painting the signs to ward them off, buying the Halloween mask, scaring the young boy? The final massacre of the gorillas, taking the head of Digit, his hands? Angry confrontation, the bizarre mock-hanging and people's reaction to it?
12. Campbell and his arrival, finding it hard, the nettles, Diane's hostile attitude, her change, his persuading her to be photographed and persuade the world? National Geographic? The affair with her, his relationship with his wife, going to Nairobi, the farewell between the two, his return and the possibility of the divorce, the bond between Diane and Campbell, each having a career and willing to sacrifice it for the other? Her hard farewell to him? her keeping the photo of him?
13. The passing of the years, her becoming older, more obsessed, the arrival of the trainees, her harsh discipline with them, attitude towards sexual contact, the looking at the animals, the chase, the mock-hanging and their horrified reaction?
14. The guide and his devotion to Diane, the years together, turning into love and respect, sharing the experience, hid shielding and advising her, his finally being ashamed of her at the mock-hanging, his devotion to her at the end and moving the stones so that her grave would be one with the gorillas?.
15. The portrait of Diane Fossey, Sigourney Weaver's presence and strength, a strong woman, brash, prepared to take risks, her initial superior attitudes, her being at home with the gorillas and gentleness, her growing obsession, her determination, her confrontation with the Africans, with the zoo people, the experience of the war, starting again, sympathy with the animals? Relationship with Campbell, love, her not being able to give up her place in Africa? The passing of the years? Becoming possessive, even mad? Her working with the trainees, yet fierce with them? The horror of the threat of the hanging, the stock-hanging? Autocratic, weeping with the guide? Her confrontation of officials? The build-up to her death, the horror of her murder? The funeral and people's grief? Ros and her coming to the funeral?
16. Enjoyable drama, conservation message, the achievement of one woman?
