Picture courtesy of the Born Free Foundation
A moving, provocative and at times justifiably angry wildlife documentary that charts the campaign to free Asian bull elephant Billy after more than thirty years of captivity in Los Angeles Zoo, Marshall Corwin’s film is unrepentantly one-sided, but its deep-rooted frustration about how this magnificent creature has been treated is both heart-felt and appropriate.
Billy was born in the wild but was captured by humans as a four-year old, and has subsequently spent much of his life in solitary confinement, despite many campaigns over the years for his release. The owners of the Cambodia Wildlife Sanctuary have promised Billy a home and the film follows the on-going efforts – both through the courts and through protests – to persuade LA Zoo to release Billy.
There is also subtext about the actual need for zoos – raising questions about whether the general public is supporting cruelty to animals buy visiting, and whether animatronic exhibitions offer more sense of ‘reality’ than keeping real-life animals – but the heart of this film is the emotional campaign to free the elephant.
Free Billy is made by new streamer Ecopix, a not-for-profit global streaming platform with a focus on wildlife conservation and environmental issues. All profits from subscriptions go to fund the platform or towards environmental campaigns that Ecoflix supports.
The film actually opens in Islamabad and shows how another elephant, Kaavan, was eventually released from a zoo after a successful campaign – passionately supported by singer Cher – and eventually released into the Cambodia Wildlife Sanctuary. Those campaigning to see Billy’s liberation take hope from Kaavan’s release, but face a long legal battle in the Los Angeles courts.
The Free Billy movement has seen celebrities such as actress Lily Tomlin, singer Cher, and many others campaign for his freedom, yet he remains a captive of the Los Angeles Zoo. Even legal efforts to free him have failed. This is despite clear judicial findings which list the many problems he faces that are likely to result in his premature demise.
Narrated by Born Free actress Virginia McKenna, the film features interviews with LA City Councilman Paul Koretz, mammalian brain expert Lori Marino, world-renowned elephant expert Joyce Poole, and attorney, animal advocate and CEO of Ecoflix David Casselman.
The plaintive visuals of Billy shaking his head (recognised by elephant experts as a sign of mental distress), and the admission in the courts by LA Zoo administrators that a new look elephant area contained electrified trees to keep the elephants from touching them, are juxtaposed with closing footage of Kaavan relishing his new life in Cambodia. Despite legal setbacks the determination to free Billy remains, despite an equal resolution from LA Zoo to retain their Elephants of Asia space.
The title track for the film – appropriately titled Free – was donated to Ecoflix by 12 times Oscar nominated songwriter, Diane Warren, and performed by Yolanda Adams and the Ebenezer Baptist Church Choir.
US, 2021, 52mins
Dir/scr Marshall Corwin
Production Ecoflix, Fresh Start Media
Producer Marshall Corwin
Cinematography Peter von Puttkamer, Bophay Oukchan, Rathany Than
Editor Chris Groom
Narration Virginia McKenna
