Virunga

This stunning documentary is so well crafted that it feels like fiction. Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is Africa’s oldest national park, a UNESCO world heritage site and the last intact habitat for the critically endangered mountain gorilla. Virunga follows the story of an almost unimaginable storm of corruption and war that threatens the park’s survival. An oil reserve is discovered, and a young French female journalist goes undercover to reveal unethical and bigoted oil officials. Rebels attempt to overthrow the Congolese government. A Belgian prince — the director of the park — stands with his rangers as the headquarters are threatened by artillery shelling. A Congolese veterinarian risks his life to stay by the side of orphaned baby gorillas. With incredible access and extraordinary cinematography, filmmaker Orlando von Einsedel (Skateistan, Mountainfilm 2011) has created a documentary with bottomless heart and steel knuckles.