One lucky elephant is an American film that was directed by Lisa Leeman. This film is about the human-animal relationship and focuses on the story of the founder of Flora animal circus Mr. David Balding- and an endangered young elephant from Africa. David names this elephant Flora, and the story unfolds about their journey to find a good ad nurturing home for Flora the elephant. David had rescued the animal when it was very young and decided to keep it in his circus where he used it as the star attraction. He had brought up that animal that he sometimes referred to as ‘my daughter’ with love and affection. As the film proceeds, it dawns to David he committed a worse mistake by trying to raise the animal alone without others of its kind. This brings a turning point in this relationship between a man and an animal. Knowing all too well that Flora will outlive him; David sets on a journey of permanently resettling Flora, the elephant in an ecology that will suit her best. Seventeen years of performance in the circus is brought to an end after David decision (Colissimo et al, 2012)
David’s decision is arrived at after he discovered that the performance of Flora in circus has dwindled, she is not happy with the life of the circus, and that it is then, that he realizes that the circus is not a natural habitat of this animal and the rest of its kind. The journey starts for both animal and its tutor friend and guardian who have been together for 17 years. David describes this separation as synonymous to kids going to school and leaving him (a parent) behind. It is a long journey across the country, Africa and back to America, again where they finally settle on an elephant sanctuary in Hohenwald Tennessee. This emotional journey leads David to discover just how hard it is in finding the ideal place for the jumbo in the world of today where people have endangered these species of animal due to the high demand of ivory. David also notes that the ever-increasing population of people and increased carelessness towards the environment has destroyed the natural habitat of Flora and others of her kind. To him the journey had revealed deep negative attitudes of people towards these jumbos where people consider these animals being excessively aggressive. The movie focuses on circumstances and dangers that surround keeping wild animals in circus or trying to tame them while at the same time keeping an eye on the delicate affection on both Flora and David (Colissimo et al, 2012)
In this love story between a man and wild animal- who in this case is Flora, the jumbo, David has tried to give Flora all due care she needs. David rescued the animal while it was still an infant and has since been caring for her and at the same time, earning a living from the shows the animal usually staged in his Flora animal circus. David’s care for the animal is further manifested after he realized that Flora is not happy in the circus environment. Flora has been loyal and jovial as she grew up while going on with her routine of performance in the animal circus. Later, as David comes to realize, Flora was feeling out of place and there was a gradual change in behavior on her side. To David this makes him realize the bitter truth; that Flora would be happy most living in the company of other animals of her kind. The long and tedious journey begins in search for a better place to resettle Flora. It is not a walk in the park for David’s search of a good place for the animal he has been caring of for almost 17 years. (Quitter et al, 2013)
Although David had tried to give Flora the best he could for all her childhood into her adulthood, circus was not an ideal environment for Flora. Flora longed for a companion of her kind in their natural habitat. In the animal kingdom, all the species in the universe always feel at home when they are with others of their kind that environment that suits them most (Kohn, 2014). Therefore, it was not a wonder that Flora started exhibiting the behavior of withdrawal and lack of vigor in the companion of her human friend. She longed to be with other elephants; a wish her loyal human friend granted her willingly and at a cost.
Flora all along had been loyal to her human friend. The bond of affection to David was always manifested since she went on with her routine of performance without any resistance. Although Flora exhibited feelings of detachment from her normal routine prior to the long search for a place to retire, she was a good elephant that expressed affection to her master. There is, however, no doubt that after Flora was overjoyed when she was finally settled in Hohenwald’s elephant sanctuary, a place where she would be able to interact with other elephants. Maybe after settling in Hohenwald, she could see the difference between a restrained life in the circus and in the new environment that was characterized with freedom and better surrounding that she wanted. Being a wild animal and with wilderness instinct i
References
Kohn, E. (2014, January 4). Movie Review - 'One Lucky Elephant' - One Engaging Character : NPR. Retrieved April 17, 2014,
Colissimo, C., Glick-Franzheim, J., Leeman, L., Balding, D., Ro*co Films International., Sandbar Pictures (Firm), Crossover Productions (Firm), Oprah Winfrey Network. (2012). One lucky elephant. New York, NY: Virgil Films & Entertainment
Quitter, M. M., Schwab, E., Khunchan, F., Analog Pictures (Firm), & ARC Entertainment (Firm). (2013). My lucky elephant. Santa Monica, CA: ARC Entertainment
