Two Brothers

Two Brothers is a magnificent film - an epic adventure of discovery and survival. It is the story of two tigers filmed amidst the spectacular scenery of a South East Asian jungle and set in early 20th Century French Indo-China. The dramatic story takes many unexpected twists and turns from the jungle to villages, the crowded market place, prison, circus, palace and arena.

If you liked Born Free, you'll love Two Brothers. In my opinion Two Brothers is the best wildlife film since Born Free. The story centers around twin tiger cubs - Kumal and Sangha - born amidst the temple ruins and exotic jungles of French Indo-China. Separated as cubs and taken into captivity, bold Kumal is forced to become a circus performer which breaks his spirit; shy Sangha becomes the beloved companion of Raoul, a young boy, but then Sangha's gentle nature is broken when he is trained to be a ferocious killer.

Two Brothers reinforces strong family values and the bond between the parents and sons are sensitively presented with deep insights into both human nature and animal behaviour. The father is courageous and gives his life to protect his offspring. The tenacious mother and her determined efforts to rescue and protect her sons is inspiring and uplifting.

The characters in the film are all well developed, including: the corrupt, devious chief who betrays Aidan McRory; the bombastic, manipulative French Administrator, Normandin; the heartless, short sighted greed and cruelty of the circus owner; the shallow, bored prince; the devoted friend of Sangha - young Raoul; and the hunter adventurer, Aidan McRory, who is torn by his responsibility for the capture of the tiger twins.

The film shows the consequences of careless and thoughtless actions of some people such as: of the French Administrator and his wife in wresting the beloved pet of their son Raoul from him - after the pandemonium caused by their dog is blamed on the tiger; the callous circus owner killing a tame tiger to provide a skin for the pretentious prince to be photographed with - supposedly his trophy from his hunt; the carefully stage-managed tiger hunt for the prince and dignitaries riding elephants as the captured tiger is cornered and driven towards the hunters.

Two Brothers graphically portrays the senseless devastation, ruin and death that follows in wake of all too many people, but also - most inspiringly - the positive difference that one, or two, caring people can make.

The film has many delightful scenes such as when the young cubs are romping in the jungle, when Raoul befriends Sangha and plays hide and seek with him and when the twin cubs are reunited.

There are many tense and dramatic scenes such as the climatic confrontation put on for the prince when these two tigers are forced into the arena and pitted against one another. The unexpected developments that flow from that encounter are inspiring and uplifting. How the brothers come to work together and how this impacts their human friends makes this a must see film. The communication between the two brothers is powerfully portrayed.

The film ends with these sobering words:

"A century ago over 100 000 tigers like Kumal and Sangha lived in the wild. Today fewer than 5000 remain."

"It is up to us, the tiger's deadliest enemy, to ensure the survival of the great cats, the last lord of the jungle."

You will be stirred, inspired and deeply touched by this tremendous film about God's magnificent creatures.

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