Many films, nonfiction and fiction alike, feature an unlikely group of characters that form a bond to either face a conflict or lift each other up. Elephant Path, a stirring documentary by sculptor-turned-filmmaker Todd McGrain, features a slew of characters who form an unlikely alliance. McGrain is no stranger to animal conservation. His Lost Bird Project, a series of enormous sculptures, was dedicated to five extinct North American bird species.
The elephants in question live in Bayanga, in the Central African Republic. Andrea Turkalo, an American biologist, has spent thirty years observing elephants in their natural habitats. Local tracker Sessely Bernard, a village elder, aids Turkalo. Also keeping watch over the animals is “Eco Guard” Zephirine Sosso Mbele, responsible for warding off poachers. They are eventually joined by ex-military contractor Nir Kalron, a man with a penchant for defensive tactics and a soft spot for animals.
The collision of these four characters helps make Elephant Path the riveting drama it is. They all have different backgrounds and ideals, but the common bond uniting them is the elephants they are trying to protect. For a film predicated on savage violations, McGrain makes a bold decision in not showing any elephants being harmed. (There is a particularly harrowing scene where audio of an attack is heard, but nothing visual). The film is a dynamic, innovative look into a herd of majestic creatures, and those fighting to save them from killers trying to profit from them.