Review of Gorillas in the Mist

Drama - running time approx. 124 minutes - colour

Studio.......................................Warner Bros. and Universal Pictures
Director...................................Michael Apted
Producer...................................Arnold Glimcher and Terence Clegg
Executive Producers...............Peter Guber and Jon Peters
Associate Producer.................Rick Baker
Co-Producers............................Robert Nixon and Judy Kessler
Production Designer................John Graysmark
Director of Photography........John Seale, A.S.C.
Editor.........................................Stuart Baird, A.C.E.
Original Music by....................Maurice Jarre
Screenplay by..........................Anna Hamilton Phelan
Story by....................................Anna Hamilton Phelan and Ted Murphy
Based on the work by Dian Fossey and the article by Harold T.P. Hayes

Cast:

Dian Fossey......................Sigourney Weaver

Also starring:

Bryan Brown and Julie Harris

Story:

Gorillas in the Mist is a successfull movie based on a true story. In 1967 Dian Fossey went to Africa to study the Mountain Gorillas, an endangered species. Her life changed radically. With love and a lot of spirit she tries to prevent the apes from extinction. She therefore starts a fight against poachers, who are only after money. For the sake of the Mountain Gorillas she sacrifises her own happiness, her health and ultimately her life. This touching film is a beautiful tribute to Dian Fossey, which will have an impact on many people.

Birgitte S.C.愀 opinion:

When I first saw this movie it had a huge impact on me. I am an animal lover and I could fully understand why Dian Fossey delivered such a fight for the preservation of the Mountain Gorillas in Rwanda. While watching the movie I grew to respect her for that, because I don愒 think that many people would give up their luxourous life to go to the jungles in Africa for field study.

All negative stories that have been told about gorillas turn out to be false, and this movie helped a lot to put the gorillas in a more favourable light. Especially the bond which is growing between Dian and the gorillas is really touching. It shows how strikingly human the gorillas actually are.

Sigourney Weaver is playing her best role ever, for which she received a well-deserved Oscar nomination. And although it is always very hard to show a timespan of several years into nearly two hours, this movie gives a good impression what Dian Fossey was like. A definite must-see!

Please pay a visit to the website of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund and give a helping hand to all the people in Africa. Our support is needed! Dian Fossey wrote in her book that she feared that the Mountain Gorillas would be extinct in the same century they were discovered. At the time she started her study there were only about 250 Mountain Gorillas left. Now, in the year 2000, there are about 650 gorillas living on the Virunga Volcanoes. Let愀 all try to make Dians dream come true, so that she didn愒 give her life for nothing.

After seeing this movie you realize how important it is that these giant gentle kings of the jungle are saved from extinction. Personally I find this movie a very good tribute to Dian Fossey, as well as the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, of which Sigourney Weaver became a honorary member after she made this film.

Recently I read the book Gorillas in the Mist, written by Dian Fossey herself, in which you not only learn a lot about the behaviour and lifestyle of the Mountain Gorillas, but also about the author. It is a very personal book, which I found very