Summaries

An epic about anthropologists who hunt and capture pygmies for study back in Europe, in an attempt to illustrate the link between man and ape.

1870. Dr. Jamie Dodd (Joseph Fiennes) is elated. He has finally succeeded in capturing not one, but two pygmies. He brings them to Scotland with the help of Elena Van Den Ende (Dame Kristin Scott Thomas), an adventurous woman who sells wild animals to the zoos of Europe. He and his two anthropologist friends, Alexander Auchinleck (Iain Glen) and Fraser McBride (Hugh Bonneville), are certain they have discovered the missing link, which will make them famous. They start examining the pygmy couple from every angle and Jamie gradually discovers that Toko (Lomama Boseki) and Likola (Cécile Bayiha) are just as sensitive and intelligent as any other homo sapiens. His two colleagues strongly reject this idea, as it is glory they are after, not the truth. Will Jamie be able to prove the two short people are genuine human beings and not freaks to be shown in a zoo?—Guy Bellinger

Details

Keywords
  • man
  • scotland
  • zoo
  • cage
  • pygmy
Genres
  • Drama
Release date Apr 12, 2005
Countries of origin United Kingdom France South Africa
Official sites Official site
Language English
Filming locations Underberg, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Production companies France 2 Cinéma Skyline Films Vertigo

Box office

Budget $30000000
Gross worldwide $3672809

Tech specs

Runtime 2h 2m
Color Color
Sound mix DTS Dolby Digital
Aspect ratio 1.85 : 1

Synopsis

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