Born Free is the kind of film that
really no longer exists; a film that is made because someone wanted to tell the
story, not geared towards a measurable demographic, a film all ages can enjoy
even though it’s not a “children’s film” stocked with loud smart-assed
kids. Its confident, formal style is
such a refreshing relief from the ramped-up agitation of today’s movies. To be able to actually see what’s happening
and to see real environments does wonders for what used to be prized as
audience involvement. Real-life husband
and wife Bill Travers and Virginina McKenna play George and Joy Adamson,
British game wardens living in Kenya.
When George shoots a pair of lions suspected of killing a villager, he
discovers their three orphaned cubs and brings them home. Joy nurtures them and develops a deep bond
with one in particular, Elsa, the runt of the group. As Elsa grows, Joy is faced with the dilemma
of turning her over to a zoo or attempting the impossible by training her to
live in the wild. Without needing to
endlessly belabor the point, as any similar film would today, it effectively
communicates difficult themes about the Adamson’s being childless and having
come to Kenya in search of personal freedom in the first place, and how these
facts bear on their decisions about Elsa.
Born Free is a reflective and
dramatic film that admirably earns its points through modesty, directness and
sincerity.
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