Animals Are Beautiful People- A Comedic Approach

African Wildlife Documentary by Jamie Uys Reveals Life in the Namib

Oct 22, 2009

The challenges and delights of life in the Namib Desert are carefully captured by Director Jamie Uys; think National Geographic meets Pixar.

Jamie Uys directed this light-hearted look at the individuals who live in the Namib Desert. Uys later went on to direct The Gods Must Be Crazy, and the sense of humor and irony from that later film are also seen in this earlier work. Whether it is a poignant vision of abandoned pelicans during a drought, or the wily way a mother duck outwits a hungry hyena, this film shows respect for the individuality, intelligence and adaptability of the creatures who must adapt to the harsh climate in which they live.

This film was four years in the making, time which allowed Uys to get to know his subjects well and to witness them through all seasons and all fortunes. We are introduced to insects that dig in the sand and elephants who knock fruit out of a tree, all with great musical accompaniment and delightful sound effects. While the harsh lives of predator and prey are also seen, there is no graphic violence, just enough reality to remind the viewer that all of life is not a party, but must be savored when it can, for survival is a tough game.

1975 Film Reveals Beautiful Photography and a Vanishing Era for Wildlife

The gorgeous view of the Namib is wonderful to watch. The varying musical scores range from bouncing upbeat music (while animals prance on the plain) to classical scores (while witnessing the amazing and dramatic dance of the ostrich), all of which increase the enjoyment of the film. A side of animal life often overlooked, Animals Are Beautiful People is educational, too. The complexity of bird habitat is shown, with some bird-made housing reflecting the variety seen in human edifices - ranch-style rambling structures, tiny bird condos, and large intersecting structures reminiscent of a bird village. A local bushman is part of the action too, and the interdependence of all life is part of the drama. During a flood of waters, various animal species share a floating log, just as they share in the drinking hole and the blossoming fruit trees. The delicate balance of nature requires cooperation, a good reminder for these changing times.

Uys Documentary Shows All Seasons, All Challenges for Animal Life in the Namib Desert

This film will have you chuckling out loud in spite of yourself at some of the antics of the wildlife. Eating fermented fruit, many of the animals begin to take on human-like traits as they bob and weave in the brush.

Both the stark beauty and the harsh brutality of life in the wild are shown, but in a way that remains upbeat and accepting. Perhaps the strength of this effective film is in its respectful treatment of all forms of life, something often missing in many of today's films. A good film for sharing with school-aged children, a great film for anyone who appreciates all forms of life. The title of the film is a reminder of the individual quest for life in all of its complexities. A delightful 1975 film, paced for an earlier time.

The copyright of the article Animals Are Beautiful People- A Comedic Approach in Science & Nature Documentaries is owned by Barbara DeGrande. Permission to republish Animals Are Beautiful People- A Comedic Approach in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.