American History

The movie Gorillas in the Mist is a true to life story of a strong woman named Dian Fossey who is much known for fighting against extinction of mountain gorillas. Dian Fossey is primatologist working for Dr. Louis Leakey when she volunteered to go to Africa for mountain gorillas census. She was not aware that she will be working alone and staying in a hut but this did not stop her to not pursue her mission. Alone in the wilderness of Rwana, she almost give up of not finding any gorilla during her first few days of stay until she came across a poop which actually belongs to one ape leading her to find a family of gorillas. From that moment, Dian started emerging with the gorillas, studying and observing their behavior, eating with them, imitating their grooming and vocalizations as well. She eventually developed a direct connection with them making her so attached to the extent that she devoted so much of herself to put on first the safety of the gorillas before hers.

The film narrates from the point of view of Dian Foster. It tells about mainly of her experiences with the gorillas and the struggles she went through in saving their lives. The movie is similar to actual historical events because it talks about personal experience of Dian in her stay at Rwanda. Dianne fighting against the government showed the fact how endangered the gorillas are with the unalleviated rate of poverty. In the same titled book, she has mentioned, Rwanda, known as the little Switzerland of Africa, is also one of the worlds five poorest countries, with about 95 of the population barely managing to survive on small farm lots, called shambas, of about two and one half acres each. This fact is applicable during the time the book was written in 1982. Also, she had a great time dealing with poachers nearby. Poaching is illegal killing of animals and in this case, of gorillas for making money out of their skins, hands and heads. It is the biggest challenge she had to face. The film highly promotes the ideology of how much gorillas are close to extinction and what more difficulties the sad groups of animals are facing from lack of appropriate support from the locality.

The actual events were portrayed in such a way that it would have an emotional impact to its audience just like how Dian felt when she saw how bad the situation of the gorillas are provoking her revenge against those accountable. At present time, the movie is being used as an eye opener especially to students as regards to environmental and animal issues. In the website, www.teachwithmovies.org, Gorillas in the Mist is among the best movies to supplement Science classes. Aside from that, it teaches socio-emotional learning and moral-ethical emphasis according to them. The movie, even set during 1980s, would still be worth seeing until today.

Also, the movie was able to give justice by showing the actual habitat of the gorillas.
The film was shot on location offering amazing scenery. Those who love picturesque mountains may enjoy watching the film and be fascinated. According to a review made by Janet Maslin of NY Times in 1988, As directed by Michael Apted, Gorillas in the Mist has an unusually powerful sense of place. The glimpses of mountainous Rwanda, where these rare gorillas live, are indeed breathtaking, and the local culture is made as palpable as the landscape itself. Moreover, most of the animals in the film were also real. The film was able to give interpretation of the events as so far it has actually occurred in real setting.
 
The movie is definitely not a departure from reality since as stated earlier it is based from the true story of Dian. It has well provided in showing the extraordinary life of Dian with her unique study. What is completely fascinating about the movie is seeing what you had not been present to originally witness. Rwanda is located at Africa and is a very far place. Without what Dian did in saving the gorillas, maybe we will not be able to see any gorilla at present time or even in movies. There will just be departure from reality if what is shown is something in our imagination can only exist such as the super powers of Spiderman. Dian and Spiderman may be similar in such a way that they both are saving lives, however, Dian is an epitome of reality because she uses her natural strength, abilities and bravery to conquer her enemies.

The book gave a more detailed narration of the several years Dian had in Africa. What was in the movie was purely a gist of her experience from the moment she accepted the work until she fought for the gorillas and further on jumping to her death. In an article Dianne wrote herself for National Geographic, she presented short account of her learning being with the gorilla group for a long time, leaving them and coming back once more after few months.

There was actually no direct change of any event in real life that was made in the movie.
According to the official site of Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, Dian died by murder in 1985 by an unknown attacker in her cabin even before the movie was finished. The film was silent to the details of the death of Dian for it still remains a mystery up until now with regard as to who did the crime.