TO WALK WITH LIONS

Britain/Canada, 1999, 106 minutes, Colour.
Richard Harris, John Michie, Kerry Fox, Ian Bannen, Geraldine Chaplin, Honor Blackman.
Directed by Carl Schultz.

To Walk With Lions is an updating of the story of George Adamson. Adamson and his wife Joy were the subject of the very popular film of the '60s, Born Free, and its sequel, Living Free. Joy, by this time, has left George and is travelling around Africa, coming to see him every year. She is murdered in Kenya.

The ageing George Adamson is still training lions to go out into the bush. However, the situation has changed in Kenya and too many groups, herds, poachers are moving through the countryside. Adamson lives with his brother Terence (played by Ian Bannen) and they live as recluses on their property, Karo. A young wanderer, Tony FitzJohn? (played by John Michie) finds himself with a job at Karo and, over the years, despite a great deal of irresponsibility, finds himself the heir to Adamson. However, he and a friend Lucy (Kerry Fox) make the transition from Kenya to Tanzania. Eventually George is killed by renegade soldiers.

Honor Blackman appears briefly as Joy Adamson, Geraldine Chaplin as Victoria, a love for George.

The film makes a number of points about the wildlife in Africa, the responsibilities of government, the cruelty of poachers. Direction is by Carl Schultz, the Australian director of Careful, He Might Hear You.

1. The popularity of the Adamsons' story and the lions in Born Free and Living Free? The updating to the '80s?

2. The African locations, Kenya, Tanzania? The open countryside with the animals roaming? Nairobi, the cities? Karo and the homestead? The musical score?

3. The title and the reference to the lions, to George Adamson, to Tony Fitz John and all those who served the wildlife of Africa? George so identifying with the lions that he talked with them, played with them, in his final moments made their cry?

4. The narrative of Tony Fitz John, wandering around Africa and so many jobs, drinking, fighting, finding himself with Terence Adamson, accepted by George? Going out to the lions but running away when told not to? His joining George in his work, growing admiration for him? Learning, staying? His attraction towards Lucy and her reaction towards him? His drinking, clashes with the authorities, with some of the native peoples? His acceptance by the lion, looking after his own, Barnardo? The threats to Karo, his going to Nairobi, drinking, losing the letter, insulting the government official? George's reaction? Lucy and her suggestion to go to Tanzania, George's rejection of this, Tony's anger, his going to Tanzania and staying? His concern about George, going back to Nairobi, asking for government protection? Driving to the ambush scene and George dead? Burying George, continuing his work in Tanzania?

5. Richard Harris as George Adamson, the patriarchal style? The background of Born Free, freeing the lions? His relationship with Joy? His fondness for her, her visit? Their clashes? His love for Victoria, her return to Karo, being ambushed and his charging to save her as he died? His work with the lions, with Terence? Seeing him in action, his diary, his reaction to Tony, keeping him on, his disappointment at his failure? The government wanting him to move, the changing situations? His being mauled by the lion, always having excuses? Not going, Victoria supporting him? The attack, being left on his own, the final charge and his death? His heritage in Africa?

6. Terence Adamson, eccentric, unmarried, supporting his brother, not empathising with the lions, building the roads, his concern about the elephants, his joy when the pack came, his horror when they were massacred and the tusks taken? His decline and silently dying while George looked at Halley's Comet?

7. Lucy, her studies, present in Africa with the tribes, staying, resisting Tony and her quips against him? Her plan for Tanzania and its rejection? Tony accepting, their relationship, going to Tanzania, setting up the wildlife sanctuary?

8. The government officials and their concern, inability to stop poaching? The poachers, the shootings, the brutality with the elephants? The rangers and their being in the pocket of poachers? The army and their being paid, renegades?

9. The friendship of Max, the clashes with Tony, friendship? He and his wife, the attack?

10. A portrait of Africa in the '70s and '80s? Wildlife and its protection? Government corruption, poaching, the army? A future for African wildlife?