Standing on the intersection of lovely and otherworldly with its lengthy tongue darting and its paws clutched cautiously, the pangolin is an enchanting animal you must see to consider. Whereas Netflix’s authentic movies have admittedly acquired some warmth for his or her various levels of high quality, Pangolin: Kulu’s Journey is heartwarming proof that the streaming titan can nonetheless knock it out of the park. Telling the story of a younger pangolin rescued from poachers, this documentary combines gorgeous visuals, an vital message, and, after all, a treasured protagonist to inform a strong story of friendship, therapeutic, and love.

What Is the Netflix Documentary ‘Pangolin: Kulu’s Journey’ About?

Directed by Pippa Ehrlich (identified for co-directing the Oscar-winning 2020 documentary My Octopus Instructor), Pangolin: Kulu’s Journey is an equally enthralling story concerning the bond cast between a person and an unlikely animal. Early on within the documentary, Kulu’s Journey solutions your most burning query, which is undoubtedly: What on earth is a pangolin? The world’s most trafficked mammal wanted for using their scales in medicinal treatments, the pangolin is a singular, anteater-like creature geared up with arduous scales, a big tongue, and a fair bigger persona.

When volunteer pangolin walker Gareth Thomas is tasked with rehabilitating Kulu, a child pangolin rescued from poachers, they start a months-long mission to arrange Kulu to reenter the South African wild. The younger animal instantly proves himself to be a dynamic central character, and as he overcomes his trauma, we meet a spunky, playful, and cussed pangolin who will steal your coronary heart faster than he downs a colony of ants. Throughout the film, Gareth shares intimate particulars of his personal previous and the way he discovered goal in wildlife conservation. As he and Kulu slowly kind a bond, we are able to see how their connection does not simply save the pangolin, however helps heal Gareth as effectively. Whereas we comply with Kulu’s quest for freedom, we additionally study concerning the numerous, delicate ecosystems that make life sustainable, and are inspired to consider our affect on the atmosphere.

‘Pangolin: Kulu’s Journey’ Has Beautiful Visuals and a Highly effective Rating

Happening within the huge lands of South Africa, Pangolin: Kulu’s Journey is full of magnificent surroundings. There are unbelievable sunsets and pictures of lovely animals, and placing close-ups flip ants and termites into looming, majestic creatures. Whereas these sights do not require a lot embellishment, the cinematography by Warren Good, Steven Dover, and Gareth Thomas himself makes us really feel completely immersed within the South African wilderness. Kulu is, after all, on the middle of the film, and the digicam paints him lovingly because the charming being he’s as he slowly learns to belief Gareth. As we watch the pangolin forage for meals, search for shelter, and play within the bathe of a water bottle, we, together with Gareth, get to fall in love with Kulu’s endearing persona.

Associated

The ten Most Underrated Documentaries, Ranked

What’s up, doc?

The story can be made extra enthralling with a rating by Anne Nikitin. Mixed with vocals from Zolani Mahola and African instrumentation by Sky Dladla, the music that underscores Kulu’s Journey hits all the suitable notes. A mischievous amble turns right into a enjoyable chase sequence with the assistance of an enthralling rating, and moments of awe, stress, and heartbreak are additional amplified by Nikitin’s work. The rating even lends itself to the film’s humor, at occasions changing into simply as playful and vigorous as Kulu himself as we watch him let his partitions down round Gareth. When the music is not accentuating the movie’s wondrous environment, silences are full of the sounds of the wild, and this stability is used artfully to at all times maintain the pure world on the forefront of the documentary.

‘Pangolin: Kulu’s Journey’ Shares Essential Messages About Love and Environmentalism

Past simply recounting conservation efforts for the endangered pangolins, Kulu’s Journey additionally discusses different vital problems with environmentalism. Dr. Caswell Munyai reinforces the significance of defending the atmosphere, providing attention-grabbing details about the meticulous hierarchies that exist in nature, and the way local weather change can disrupt these precarious ecosystems. Speaking heads from different wildlife conservationists and pangolin specialists present additional perception into the efforts to guard these animals and their habitats. Past simply studying concerning the existence of pangolins, you are positive to return away from this film with a deeper data of ants, meals chains, and the implications of local weather change and animal trafficking. Whereas Kulu’s Journey might have simply zeroed in on the pangolin of all of it and cashed in on cuteness, Pippa Ehrlich’s insistence on educating us concerning the potential domino results of human carelessness solely serves to make the documentary much more impactful.

Nonetheless, the beating coronary heart of Kulu’s Journey is the connection between Gareth and Kulu, and Gareth’s countless empathy for his little buddy is inspiring. As he prepares to ship his buddy out into the wild, their relationship turns into akin to a dad or mum sending their youngster off to varsity (if mentioned school additionally offered a really actual risk of being eaten by hyenas). By way of its give attention to Kulu and Gareth’s unlikely friendship, Pangolin: Kulu’s Journey turns into extra than simply an enchanting nature documentary, however a transferring story about our potential for kindness and the significance of connecting with the world round us. Whereas the destiny of the pangolin is unsure, this Netflix documentary sheds vital mild on a uncommon creature, and reminds us that there’s a lot about this world and its inhabitants that we all know so little about.

Pangolin: Kulu’s Journey will likely be accessible to observe on Netflix on April twenty first.

Pangolin: Kulu’s Journey

‘Pangolin: Kulu’s Journey’ is a transferring and informative story about love, friendship, and the significance of nurturing the world round us.

Launch Date

April 21, 2025

Runtime

88 Minutes

Director

Pippa Ehrlich

Execs & Cons

• The bond between Gareth and Kulu is heartwarming to observe.
• An important rating and considerate cinematography intensify the great thing about the pure world.
• The documentary does not simply supply data on pangolins, however concerning the atmosphere and ecosystems through which they stay, providing an vital reminder concerning the impacts of local weather change.