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Plot Summary
Sixteen years have passed since David Balding adopted Flora, the orphaned baby African elephant he lovingly raised as part of his family and made the star of his show. As Flora approaches adulthood, he realizes that she is not happy performing. Ultimately, David must face the difficult truth that she is not "a dog or a daughter" and needs to be with other elephants. The road to Flora's retirement, however, is a difficult and emotional journey which tests their bond in unexpected ways. Ten years in the making, One Lucky Elephant explores the human-animal bond through one man's love for his elephant.
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Rotten Tomatoes Movie Reviews
TOMATOMETER
96%- Reviews Counted: 25
- Fresh: 24
- Rotten: 1
- Average Rating: 7.5/10
Top Critics' Reviews
Fresh: Happily, while this movie's head may not always be in the right place, its heart is...
Fresh: What begins as a simple man-and-his-pachyderm love story ends up encompassing unexpected levels of trauma and sacrifice.
Fresh: How affected are these animals by the physical pain of being trained or by childhood trauma? Can they suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder? What can trigger that if they can? All these questions are raised and, quite appropriately, left open.
Fresh: Both illuminates the bond that can form between humans and animals and also reminds us that we can never quite leap over the gulf of comprehension that lies between us and other species.
Customer Reviews
Touching Story!
Great story! Perfect if you are an animal lover or are a doc fan. I am both!
Thoughtful and Heartfelt
A great documentary that lays out a difficult predicament and challenges the viewer to make their own decision on what is best for the elephant, without beating you over the head with an agenda.
Engaging + Educational + Elephants = A must watch
A powerful portrayal of the human - animal bond. It doesn't doesn't try to force one opinion but rather allows the viewer to see different perspectives and come to their own conclusions. Flora and David are fascinating characters. I watched this with my daughter who is 9 and it was a heart-warming, educational experience for us both.
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- $12.99
- Genre: Documentary
- Released: 2011
- © 2012 Virgil Films and Entertainment, LLC. All rights reserved.