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Beyond cats and dogs – The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Sep
A scene from the documentary, The Elephant in the Living Room, is shown. The film opens this weekend at Rave Motion Pictures.
With the Arkansas Legislature considering a bill that would add primates to the list of exotic animals prohibited in the state — along with big cats and bears — the timing of Michael Webber’s new award-winning documentary, The Elephant in the Living Room, which tackles the issue of exotic animal ownership, couldn’t be more pertinent here at home. The film opens at the Rave this Friday.
The primary narrative of the film follows Tim Harrison, an Ohio public safety officer who has spent decades in the field rescuing and capturing exotic animals.
Closely tied to his story is that of Terry Brumfield, a rural Ohio man who, after being in a serious truck accident, was given two lion cubs that he came to love as his own children. Woven between the two are interviews from sources spanning the country: an exotic pet dealer, an emergency room doctor, wildlife officers and other animal owners who all have their own thoughts on the ownership of lions, tigers and bears (among other things).
Shot with a keen eye for detail, the film is engaging as it not only chronicles the struggle Brumfield faces once his lions escape and start chasing cars on the freeway, but also manages to touch on other hot button news stories that have popped up on the national radar over the past few years.
From Nevada to Florida, the film takes pains to illustrate the point that the issue isn’t just confined to a single area, but in fact is widespread across the country as many states, unlike Arkansas, don’t have laws against owning many predatory animals. In fact, Webber follows Harrison to an exotic animal auction in Pennsylvania, in the heart of Amish country, where one can find, in the words of those in the film, virtually anything short of a human child for sale. Literally after grabbing groceries on the way home, anybody can walk up and buy a hyena while they’re at it. Legally.
It is that sort of depth that makes this an interesting film. It would have been easy, perhaps, to shoot for an emotional angle that appeals to hardcore animal lovers. Nobody likes to see animals suffer, and doubtless Webber could have found plenty of footage that would have just sparked outrage. Instead, he takes the harder road and tells his story mostly through interviews of people in their offices or at their homes, but mixed in with footage of his investigative exploration. It makes for a fascinating tale.
Naturally, the key to making those interviews successful is shooting with an unflinching honesty, and certainly Webber does just that. Emotional and candid, it’s clear the people on camera are speaking from the heart, whether they’re advocating for owners’ rights or condemning the idea of keeping animals that could literally eat your face off. It’s a tricky debate, and one that the filmmaker takes pains to explore thoroughly.
Where that is most obvious is in the interviews with Harrison. A criticism could be made that too much of the story is given to him to tell, but the fact of the matter is that he’s a good person to tell it because he not only cares about his work, he’s thoughtful about it, too. Sitting in the woods, alone but for the camera and crew, he ponders the nature of his crusade and whether he’s the good guy or the bad guy and whether his work ever has a happy ending.
Above all, though, The Elephant in the Living Room is a good documentary because it will draw you in. It’s impossible not grow attached to Brumfield, as rustic as he is at times, and harder still not to be caught up in the fate of his lions Lambert and Lacie. True to Harrison’s musing, the resolution is bittersweet. It’s not one you’ll leave behind at the theater.
RATING: 4 STARS
spencer@syncweekly.com
Spencer Watson, 26
Where are you from? Where have you lived?
I have always lived in Arkansas. I grew up in Benton, went to school in Fayetteville, then moved back to the Little Rock metro area. I always thought I’d leave the state after college, but nowadays I can’t seem to figure out why.
Where’d you go to school? Was it easy for you to pick major?
I went to the U of A and, no, picking a major wasn’t easy. I think I changed it five times in six semesters. Ultimately, I was going into my senior year and knew I had to graduate and went back to a Classical Studies (Greek and Roman history) major that I’d completed most of the coursework for because I’d always found the classes very interesting. And now I can put “reads ancient Greek” on my resume.
What has been your worst job?
In high school I spent a summer as a cashier at a major retail store. I hated it because I never got to do my job. I was always tapped to retrieve shopping carts from the lot in 100+ temperatures. But instead of wearing shorts and a T-shirt like the absent cart-pushers could, I had to come dressed for my job, in jeans and a collared shirt. I lost a lot of weight, but it wasn’t fun.
What’s your dream job?
I’d love to be a professional poker player, but I look forward to retirement more than anything else. In the meantime, I’m happy with what I’m doing now.
When you were a kid what was your favorite toy? Would you still like to have that toy today? What happened to it?
I was always big on action figures like He-Man, G.I. Joe and Transformers. I guess I wouldn’t still have them today because I don’t. They were all sold off in a garage sale at some point.
Do you feel like a “grown up?” If not, do you think you ever will? If yes, when did that happen?
Not really. Being single and with no mortgage, it’s easy to still be a kid. But when I talk to people in college or high school, I sometimes think it’d be nice to have summers off and lots of holidays again. But I really like what I do, so being a working adult isn’t so bad, I guess.
If you could travel or live anywhere in the world, where would you go? Why?
Rome. I spent so many hours studying it’s history and culture, I have to see it all before I die.
What is your most embarrassing moment or a funny story your family always tells about you?
I’ve never been a big veggie eater and my family likes to remind me how I used to say I was allergic to anything green.
Do you have any pets? Do you share any of their personality traits?
No pets these days, but I had a cat growing up, and we were a lot alike, though I’d like to think I have never been as moody and arrogant as she was.
Any hobbies?
I love to read and play video games. I go bowling often, but after two years still can’t break 200. I’ve recently become addicted to fantasy football.
Any food or cooking-related disaster stories?
Not personally, but I once had a friend who tried to make fried pickles, ala Cock of the Walk, and failed miserably. We ended up hanging them on a nail on the front door with a sign that said “FREE!” We still got no takers.
Why did you apply to work on this publication?
I think Sync is a great thing and fills a void in modern culture, using mixed media to put news in the hands of a younger audience. These folks are missing out on great stories that do or could impact their lives. I wanted to be a part of that.
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