An Apology to Elephants (2013)

Directed by

Amy Schatz

Genre

documentary film

Country

United States

Runtime

40 min

Rated

PG

Rating

7.9 of 10 from 9 voters

Elsewhere

IMDb

How it feels

This documentary looks at how elephants are treated in zoos and circuses. It shows the physical and mental harm from captivity and training. Experts and activists share what they have seen.

educationalsomberinformativemovingsoberingeye-openingheartbreaking

What happens

An Apology to Elephants is a 2013 documentary that explores abuse and brutal treatment of elephants. It showcases elephant training and the psychological trauma and physical damage done by living conditions in some zoos and circuses. It premiered on HBO on April 22, 2013, also celebrated as Earth Day. The documentary includes interviews with environmental activists and biologists, including Performing Animal Welfare Society co-founders Ed Stewart and Pat Derby. The film was dedicated to Derby, who spent her life rescuing performing animals. Also known as an "elephant lady", she died on February 15, 2013. Narrator Lily Tomlin campaigned on the subject for several years, in the course of which she met Pat Derby. Later, she suggested that HBO make a movie about elephant captivity. HBO began work on the documentary in 2011. It was later joined by PETA, which offered pictures and video footage, including photos from a whistleblower depicting elephant training at the Ringling Bros circus. (from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)

More like this

• How I Became an Elephant (2012)
• Elephant (2020)
• The African Elephant (1971)
• Speciesism: The Movie (2013)
• Elephants at Work (1913)
• Earthlings (2005)
• Born to Be Wild (2011)
• Elephant Dreams