Elephant is a 2020 DisneyNature film directed by Mark Linfield and Vanessa Berlowitz that chronicles the journey of Shani, her son Jomo and their herd as they make their annual trek across the Kalahari Desert.
Elephant is the fifteenth film released under the DisneyNature label with narration provided by the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle. Alongside Dolphin Reef, Elephant marks the first DisneyNature film to be released directly to the Disney Plus streaming service.
Meghan Markle as a narrator was a wildcard heading into my viewing but she pleasantly surprised! Markle delivered a regal voice that kept warmth and fun to guide the viewer through the journey. It was a very intuitive vocal delivery that impressed.
The approach of the script was a nice departure for the DisneyNature documentaries. To reflect the nature of the elephant, the story heavily focuses on a more mythological approach. We spend a great portion of the film reflecting on the importance of family to elephants and a large portion of that is reflected through their ancestry. We don’t learn a lot of factual information about elephants but instead tie into the mythology and intelligence of the majestic creatures.
Not to be tied down, we also get plenty of fun and effervescent moments. I have a personal weakness for baby elephants and Jomo provides all of the adorable mannerisms you’d hope for. We open the film getting to experience the largest land mammals playing and splashing in water. But the film takes viewers through the gambit of emotion, from joy and laughter to tears and heartfelt connection.
The largest issue with the film is that it begins to feel repetitive through the middle portion. We hear many of the same anecdotes and phrases repeatedly, leaving audiences wondering when we are moving on to the next event.
Elephant is a delightful film that shines through as a unique entry to the DisneyNature canon. A more thoughtful approach to documentary story-telling, it’s hard not to get sucked into the story and feel a band with our animal counterparts.
RECOMMENDATION: Stream it! Available now on Disney Plus
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