Virunga

A gripping, sobering look at brave people protecting endangered animals amid corruption and violence, both heartbreaking and inspiring.

Directed by

Orlando von Einsiedel

Genres

Documentary, War

Starring

André Bauma, Emmanuel de Merode, Mélanie Gouby

Tagline

Conservation is war

Overview

Virunga in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is Africa's oldest national park, a UNESCO world heritage site, and a contested ground among insurgencies seeking to topple the government that see untold profits in the land. Among this ongoing power struggle, Virunga also happens to be the last natural habitat for the critically endangered mountain gorilla. The only thing standing in the way of the forces closing in around the gorillas: a handful of passionate park rangers and journalists fighting to secure the park's borders and expose the corruption of its enemies. Filled with shocking footage, and anchored by the surprisingly deep and gentle characters of the gorillas themselves, Virunga is a galvanizing call to action around an ongoing political and environmental crisis in the Congo.

How it feels

Tense, earnest, bleak and uplifting. Measured and needs your attention.

About

Environment, corruption, war, survival

Content

Strong violence. Mild gore and language. No sexual content.

Note

Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown

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Watch the trailer on YouTube (opens in a new tab)