About...
Logline:An immersive portrait piece, Elephant Keeper, goes behind-the-scenes at an elephant conservation center in Laos, providing a rare and intimate glimpse into the daily life of senior mahout, Mr. Tong, as he endeavors to preserve a centuries-old indigenous tradition, and a beloved species on the brink of extinction
Synopsis:
Feature Documentary, Elephant Keeper, is the story of an elder indigenous mahout who is adjusting to a new job in ecotourism in the remote jungles of Sainyabuli Province, Laos. Elephant keepers, known as mahouts in: “The Land of a Million Elephants”, have historically played a significant role in caring for the sacred species and passing centuries-old teachings down in an oral tradition that is disappearing as the Lao elephant rapidly approaches extinction. Senior mahout, Mr. Tong, arrives at the Elephant Conservation Center (ECC) in search of work to support his family, and is paired with Mae Dok, the Center’s sweet and stubborn 60-year-old elephant matriarch. As he adapts to a new routine away from home, Mr. Tong finds a confidant in his elephant charge, and befriends roommate, Ken the guide, and their beloved next-door neighbor, Noy, the orphaned wild baby elephant. Tong is partially sighted, and faces blindness as he endeavors to share his ancestral wisdom with the young mahouts and staff before it’s too late. A rare and intimate experimental portrait piece, guided by Mr. Tong’s personal and reflective story and song, cinéma vérité footage is supplemented by context-rich interviews, and Lao-inspired shadow puppetry and music. The immersive contemplative nature of the cinematography allows the audience to feel present within the action and story in a complex narrative rich with visual metaphor and symbolism, exploring themes of Extinction & Conservation, Industrialization & Globalization, and Culture & Identity.
Screening in Festivals since 2020...
A Film by Kate Kirby & Crew
Kindred Planet Productions
Synopsis:
Feature Documentary, Elephant Keeper, is the story of an elder indigenous mahout who is adjusting to a new job in ecotourism in the remote jungles of Sainyabuli Province, Laos. Elephant keepers, known as mahouts in: “The Land of a Million Elephants”, have historically played a significant role in caring for the sacred species and passing centuries-old teachings down in an oral tradition that is disappearing as the Lao elephant rapidly approaches extinction. Senior mahout, Mr. Tong, arrives at the Elephant Conservation Center (ECC) in search of work to support his family, and is paired with Mae Dok, the Center’s sweet and stubborn 60-year-old elephant matriarch. As he adapts to a new routine away from home, Mr. Tong finds a confidant in his elephant charge, and befriends roommate, Ken the guide, and their beloved next-door neighbor, Noy, the orphaned wild baby elephant. Tong is partially sighted, and faces blindness as he endeavors to share his ancestral wisdom with the young mahouts and staff before it’s too late. A rare and intimate experimental portrait piece, guided by Mr. Tong’s personal and reflective story and song, cinéma vérité footage is supplemented by context-rich interviews, and Lao-inspired shadow puppetry and music. The immersive contemplative nature of the cinematography allows the audience to feel present within the action and story in a complex narrative rich with visual metaphor and symbolism, exploring themes of Extinction & Conservation, Industrialization & Globalization, and Culture & Identity.
Screening in Festivals since 2020...
A Film by Kate Kirby & Crew
Kindred Planet Productions
