Dawa the snow leopard hunts ferociously to provide for her cubs, but is it enough?
"Born in China" spends one year looking at a small handful of animals native to the country, including panda bears, snub-nosed monkeys and snow leopards.
While those two threads frequently deal with predators - young snub nosed monkeys are periodically carried away by hawks - the panda segment is relatively conflict-free.
A National Geographic documentary may not pause for footage of monkeys running through the snow on their tip toes over a playful music cue that makes the sequence feel like a cartoon, but that's Disneynature's bread and butter.
A family of golden snub-nosed monkeys in "Born in China". It's "Planet Earth" aimed at younger audiences, but any nature lovers can find enjoyment here, especially in the stunning cinematography.
Supporting roles throughout the film are played by the endangered Tibetan antelope species known as chiru, which faces ongoing threats from poachers coveting the animals' super-fine fur for the production of "shahtoosh" shawls, and the rare, majestic red-crowned crane, a traditional symbol of longevity in China.
North Korea threatens 'super mighty pre-emptive strike' against US
China made a plea for a return to negotiations. "I don't want to telegraph what I am doing or what I am thinking", he said. Both countries are trying "to get this under control and aim for a denuclearized Korean Peninsula", he said.
"Born in China" is crafted for kids, but it doesn't present itself as a fairy tale. The life of an adult female panda is a very lonely one.
Of course, the documentary's prime draw - if you aren't counting cuteness - is the sheer beauty and astounding intimacy of its footage.
John Krasinski does his best Sir David Attenborough as the narrator, though he doesn't achieve that singular mix of gravitas and cheeky wit that the "Life" and "Planet Earth" legend brings to those classic nature documentaries.
The G rating on this visit with several animal families certainly beckons the family audience, although some youngsters may be frightened by the depicted moments of peril, which are not exactly focused upon but are not ignored either. By the time you get there, though, you're wondering how much more powerful the pictures could have been without the words getting in the way.
"Born in China" may not inspire the merchandising juggernaut of some of Disney's other properties, but it is a fun, insightful and handsome way to learn about a part of the world most will never see otherwise.
Comments