Cher & The Loneliest Elephant
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Cher & The Loneliest Elephant
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Cher & The Loneliest Elephant is a documentary about the journey to rescue a bull elephant named Kaavan from neglectful conditions at a Pakistani zoo. Language includes swear words such as "hell" and "hellhole," a claim is made by Cher that she is "pissed off" at the sight of Kaavan's situation, and the singer speaks about the possibility of dying while visiting Pakistan during a global pandemic. There are also mentions that Kaavan is dangerous and has killed two keepers, talk of his grief over the death of female elephant companion Saheli, and mention that Kaavan is given medication to suppress the surge in his testosterone level and to curb aggressive behavior. Images include Kaavan constrained with chains around his feet, the elephant being tranquilized, Kaavan striking a human with his trunk, and archival footage of a deceased elephant.
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What's the Story?
CHER & THE LONELIEST ELEPHANT is a documentary about the actions taken by the Oscar-winning actor and pop singer along with others to offer a better life for Kaavan, a Pakistani bull elephant. It's a five-year effort by the team to free the animal from the Marghazar Zoo in Islamabad, where he has been held captive in uncaring living conditions while being featured as a star attraction for visitors to see.
Is It Any Good?
In this heartwarming film about the incredible rescue of a bull elephant, Cher initially admits that she's not sure about how to help. "I cannot save an elephant in Pakistan because I have no street cred," says the Academy Award-winning actor in Cher & The Loneliest Elephant. "How am I going to do this?" But with her passion for animals, the Goddess of Pop shows that she can, and gathers support from experts and friends. Cher captures the part of elephant rescuer with perfection, a role that she says "was way beyond my job description, but, you know, they have feelings and we have to be responsive." And Cher & The Loneliest Elephant does just that as a moving story sure to initiate a dialogue about the subjects of animal care and rescue.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the teamwork of the cast in Cher & The Loneliest Elephant. How do they also demonstrate compassion, courage, and perseverance? Why are these important character strengths?
Why is Kaavan referred to as the "dancing elephant" and "loneliest elephant" at the zoo?
What are shared similarities between elephants and humans?
What is the meaning of animal rescue? What could you do to help save or support animals?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: April 22, 2021
- Cast: Cher, Amir Khalil, Samar Khan
- Director: Jonathan Finnigan
- Studios: Smithsonian Channel, Nutshell TV Ltd., Two Wise Monkeys Entertainment, Terra Mater Factual Studios
- Genre: Documentary
- Topics: Activism, Science and Nature, Wild Animals
- Character Strengths: Compassion, Courage, Perseverance, Teamwork
- Run time: 46 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Award: Common Sense Selection
- Last updated: March 3, 2022
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