"An Apology to Elephants" is an American documentary short film from 2013, so this one has its 5th anniversary this year. It runs for slightly under 40 minutes and won a DGA as well as an Emmy although the latter is almost a given if you look at the Emmy history of director Schatz and writer Wagner. Here we have their take on elephants and how humans exploit them for their own good in the entertainment industry (circuses e.g.), but also on many other occasions. But there is more to that. The film shows us not only the bad and sad, but also the beauty of which elephants are and the positive impacts they had in history on many occasions. How can we be so ungrateful!? There is a strong depiction of cruelty against animals in this one and I think this is a good thing in this very case and necessary in order to make clear not only that things are going wrong, but how wrong they are actually going. I am not a fan of Lily Tomlin (anymore) I must say, but here she is okay. Also helps that the amount of narration she has is not that much thanks to interviews etc. What else can you say about this one. I have not been to a circus for a long time and maybe this little movie helps you to make an equally good decision. Sure you cannot stop the violence at its core, but you like everybody else can contribute to the common goal of giving elephants a bigger life. They always remember and if you know how old they are getting this really means something. Some truly heartbreaking pieces of footage in here, especially the one scene where we see these old and wasted and injured elephants finally getting rest and not having to suffer anymore. All in all, this is one of the best documentaries and short films of the year 2013, maybe even one of the best 2013 has to offer without any restrictions. Highly recommended, not for very young audiences though.

THAT ANIMALS HAVE abilities that are akin to our own seems to be a startling recent discovery to a large segment of our society. We congratulate them on catching up with what our so-called animal lovers have known since the earliest of times. Be it instinctive or by virtue of our experiences, animal intelligence, personality, memory and feelings has come to be a sort of undisputed fact.CREATURES THAT MOST of us know are of the small to medium range in size and can be found in shelters, pet shops and at some of our neighbors' houses. Kittens anyone? But it seems that the larger and more exotic the species, the greater is the complex intelligence, behavior and individuality.THE FILM WE are reviewing manages to make a case for our long enslaved pachyderms. Meaning "Thick Skinned" the word is derived from Greek or Latin (one or the other) and lends its name to this fascinating order of the Animal Kingdom called Mammals.THE FILM DOES a fine job in covering all of that basic scientific data; including touching on the old Family Tree. Mammoths, Mastodons and Gomphotheres. (look them up, Schultz). They also remind us that in the wild, they are far fewer in numbers all the time.BUT THE MAIN message here is how the elephant is faring in the modern world of captivity. Circuses and Zoos are the chief targets. Whereas (according to the narration) there does seem to be hope for Zoological Parks, but the Circus is out. They contend that the methods and practices traditionally employed are cruel, unnatural and heartless to the animal.THE NARRATION AND storyline brings us a history of the elephant in captivity,. dating into antiquity. The cave paintings, ancient armies and employment of the great beast as building & excavation specialist are reviewed.WHAT WAS PARTICULARLY disturbing and disappointing was the story of a Coney Island Indian Elephant named Topsy. Following some dangerous encounters with trainers, the owners sold Topsy to be used in an electronic experiment to demonstrate the negative properties of Alternating Current. The elephant was electrocuted by the company of Thomas Edison.THERE IS NO doubt that the whole slant of the film is one of anti-circus ownership and employment of elephants for entertainment. That fanaticism that is so often displayed by those individuals who become involved in causes seems to be at work here. The trouble with a typical zealot is that they care not so much about the fairness and veracity of their work so much as is its ability to influence its audience.TO REALLY GIVE a true and fairly rendered production, the production team had an obligation to depict some more pachyderm friendly institutions and their keepers. THE Arguments PRESENTED are powerful, but we see that there is one positive here. There is extensive breeding of both African and Indian Elephants in captivity. This could be a potential tool in countering the widespread illegal hunting of the animals that could lead to extinction.

Elephants are one of the most majestic and intelligent of all animals, and their familial and social connections rival ours.Yet here we are, the cruel humans, beating and bull-hooking these gentle giants to within an inch of their life so they can learn to perform tricks for us.Watching this movie was hard. Very hard, even for someone like me who knew about the tremendous abuse these elephants suffer since the time they were born and tore away from their mothers, till they die a beaten animal around 40 years age, half their normal life span. Might as well die early - why live this way?But watch it, you all must. And it will make you think - and if you are someone with empathy, compassion to animals, you will be hard pressed not to be angry and ticked off. And sad. And resolve not to ever patronize a circus or even a zoo. Yes, zoos are culpable as well.A great documentary.