Celebrating its 15th anniversary, Disneynature once again is delivering a documentary that is not only beautifully captured but resonates with its audience on a deeply emotional level. Disneynature Tiger tells the story of one mother's determination to raise her cubs in a world where danger lurks around every rock.
Disneynature Tiger Review
Walt Disney always had a passion for nature and wildlife, which led him to create Disney's True-Life Adventures, a series of nature documentaries that began in 1948. In 2008, Disneynature was founded to continue that legacy and since then has produced 14 inspiring, entertaining, and intimate looks at the lives of some Earth's most amazing creatures. The latest, Tiger, directed by Mark Linfield, and co-directed by Vanessa Berlowitz and Rob Sullivan is no exception. Narrated by Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Tiger follows a young tigress named Ambar as she raises her four cubs (a rare large litter) in a jungle in India.
Tiger begins by introducing Ambar, a three year old tigress who has just become a mother to four cubs–two males and two females. Even though they are only a few weeks old, they each have a unique personality: Ivy loves to climb, Ravi is an adventurer, Golu is a bit clumsy, and Charm is timid, preferring to observe her siblings rather than participate in their hijinks. It's not easy raising four cubs when danger lurks everywhere you turn. Whether it is a python seeking an easy meal or the new male tiger Shankar who is itching to assert his dominance, Ambar must do everything in her power to keep her cubs fed and safe. It's a story of motherhood and one that reveals so much about the elusive tiger, as Disneynature takes us deep into the lush jungles of India to reveal behaviors never-before-seen by any human eye.
Disneynature's crew spent 1500 days in the Indian jungle getting to know these big cats and their curious neighbors. Tigers are relatively solitary creatures unless they are mothers or tolerating another for the purpose of mating. When Ambar is off hunting or the POV switches to Shankar, it is clear to see how a tiger's life could be considered a lonely one. After all, no one wants to be your friend when you are more likely to eat them than play nice. The tigers are very aware of their status, using their stripes to blend in lest a nosy monkey sounds the alarm causing all the prey to flee. Although the filmmakers, in one of many mind-blowing shots, captured one species who is daring enough to get close to a tiger– frogs. Apparently it is worth risking a male tiger's wrath in order to get a tasty lunch of flies that circle the cat.
Tigers are also known to be fierce yet there is so much more to them than their powerful presence. It only takes one look into her eyes to see Ambar's emotions. Whether she is patiently allowing her cubs to use her as a playground or devising a plan to keep their existence a secret from Shankar, Ambar is just like any other mother who puts her offsprings well-being above her own. She even shows some frustration as she tries to keep them in line during “jungle school” – frequent strolls throughout her territory where they learn how to be tigers. As a parent, it's relatable. I'm trying to impart crucial knowledge and you would rather play, eat, or sleep. Sounds about right.
Carrying on the Disneynature tradition, Tiger takes all those components along with some of the most gorgeous cinematography ever seen, to tell an emotional story that draws you in from the very first frame. The realities of the wild are handled delicately, any kills made by the tigers mostly obstructed from view. Make no mistake though, there is a moment of absolute heartbreak for Ambar, that left me in tears. However, thanks to Disney's way of storytelling, there is hope and light to be found even in the darkest moments.
There are not enough words to describe just how phenomenal the footage is that Linfield's team was able to capture. When Disneynature began, filming tigers was always a priority. But like Linfield revealed in my interview, it would have been near impossible to get the kind of footage they would want based on the tech available at the time. Now thanks to state-of-the-art gyro stabilizing long-range cameras and high quality remote cameras, Linfield's team has managed to film behaviors never witnessed or even imagined before. This daring and inventive camerawork allowed the tigers to feel relaxed and behave as they normally would. The results are just jaw-dropping. Like when one of the many remote cameras, set up during scouting, captures Shankar stretching out and sleeping in his den, curled up like an oversized house cat. Then in another completely unexpected moment, Shankar hunts down a sloth bear, which itself has never been filmed, but what is even more shocking is that he gives the kill to Ambar in an attempt to impress her.
The companion film for this is Tigers on the Rise. Rather than just being a behind-the-scenes feature for Tiger it also takes an in-depth look at the conservation efforts in India that have contributed to a rise in tiger populations. It introduces some of the people responsible for protecting the tigers and the humans they oftentimes cross paths with. From roads being raised to a town who actively protects its local tigress and her cubs, it's heartening to see that humans can make a difference. The efforts of the Indian people should serve as inspiration for others who are seeking to save their own keystone species.
Ultimately, the story of Ambar and her cubs is one of motherhood and survival. Priyanka Chopra Jonas makes for the perfect narrator for a journey of life, adventure, loss, and hope. Her love for these animals is clear as she draws you in, building that connection so that Ambar and her little ones become part of your family. Their challenges are your challenges, their wins are your wins. A compelling story with gorgeous visuals. Disneynature Tiger gets you up close and personal with one of the most elusive animals on the planet. What it reveals is nothing short of incredible.
Disneynature Tiger and Tiger on the Rise are now streaming on Disney+.
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