African Cats

Directed by Keith Scholey and Alastair Fothergill

With: Lionesses and cubs, Lions, a cheetah and her cubs, hippos, hyenas, wildebeest, giraffe, zebras, gazelle, water buffalo, crocodile, aardvarks at al.

What could be more captivating than wee fuzzy lion cubs? Wee fuzzy cheetah cubs! The new Disney film, “African Cats,” provides plenty of both.

This stunning film opened on Earth Day, an appropriate choice as the numbers of lions on earth continue to decrease every year.

The film follows two families of African cats and their quest for survival in the Masai Mara in Tanzania. The savannahs are filled with danger as you will see.

Little Maya is the endearing cub of Layla, a lioness who is getting on in life.

She wants to insure that Maya will be accepted by the rest of the pride after she is gone. Cubs cannot care for themselves and make tasty meals for viscous hyenas and other predators. Fang is the male lion who protects his pride of several females and their cubs. He is recognizable by a fang that protrudes from his mouth. Not far away are five male lions who want the pride for themselves. They would kill the cubs so the lionesses will produce their own offspring.

The other “African Cat” family is that of Sita, a cheetah who lives across the river from the lions. Fearless Sita has five cubs and is a “single mom.” Sita continually needs to leave her hungry cubs alone so she can hunt for their food. While she is off hunting, her cubs are in mortal danger. Unlike the lionesses who hunt in packs, Sita has to go it alone. It is not easy.

“African Cats” is called a “true life adventure,” not a documentary. It is difficult to imagine any life more threatening that that of these cats. It is eat or be eaten, kill or be killed.

The theme of  motherless offspring has been done many times by Disney(Bambi, Dumbo, Snow White and others). The animals are given human emotions and the viewer relates to these feelings. Samuel L. Jackson narrates the often heart-pounding story with just the right ominous tone.

The cinematography in “African Cats” is ravishing from sunset panoramas, aerial shots of the savannahs, to the inner family circles of these majestic felines. You see close ups of the animals’ huge furry paws, their quivering flanks, their powerful shoulders, the insides of their cubs’ yawning mouths. You hear the mewling of a stricken Sita when she can’t locate her cubs as you hear their cries for their mother.

There are those who will criticize the anthropomorphism in “African Cats.” But who is to say that these animals do not have “courage,” “hope,” “grudges,” “confidence,” or experience “love.” And that a mother cat’s loss of her cub is not her worst nightmare? I, for one, can tell if my dog or cat is content, depressed, or anxious, all “human” emotions.

Directors Keith Scholey and Alastair Fothergill have put together a remarkable entertainment that should be seen on the big screen. You will wonder how they were able to get so intimately close to the animals.

They show lions tackling their prey but wisely have not shown them tearing into their kill. And stay for the credits when the lions and the supporting cast get their “credits.” “African Cats” provides a perfect family outing. But it is not only for kids: It is a breathtaking and stirring safari for all of us. I, for one, loved the gamboling aardvarks.