Gorillas in the Mist: The Story of Dian Fossey (1988)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Michael Apted

Writers (WGA):

Harold T.P. Hayes (article)
Dian Fossey (work)

Release Date:

23 September 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Tagline:

In a land of beauty, wonder and danger, she would follow a dream, fall in love and risk her life to save the mountain gorillas from extinction.

Plot:

The story of Dian Fossey, a scientist who came to Africa to study the vanishing mountain gorillas, and later fought to protect them.

Plot Keywords:

Africa | Eco Terrorism | Monkey Actor | Animal | Environmental

Awards:

Nominated for 5 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Sigourney Weaver	...	Dian Fossey
Bryan Brown	...	Bob Campbell
Julie Harris	...	Roz Carr
John Omirah Miluwi	...	Sembagare
Iain Cuthbertson	...	Dr. Louis Leakey
Constantin Alexandrov	...	Van Veeten
Waigwa Wachira	...	Mukara
Iain Glen	...	Brendan
David Lansbury	...	Larry
Maggie O'Neill	...	Kim
Konga Mbandu	...	Rushemba
Michael J. Reynolds	...	Howard Dowd
Gordon Masten	...	Photographer
Peter Nduati	...	Batwa chief
Helen Fraser	...	Mme. Van Vecten

Also Known As:

Gorillas in the Mist (USA) (short title)
Gorilles dans la brume (Canada: French title) (France) [fr]
Dimhöljda bergens gorillor, De (Sweden) [sv]
Gorilas en la niebla (Spain) [es]
Gorilas na Bruma (Portugal) [pt]
Goriles stin omihli (Greece) [el]
Gorillák a ködben (Hungary) [hu]
Gorilla nella nebbia (Italy) [it]
Gorillas im Nebel (West Germany) [de]
Gorilot B'Arafell (Israel: Hebrew title) [iw]
Gorily v mlze (Czechoslovakia) [cs]
Goryle we mgle (Poland) [pl]
Nas Montanhas dos Gorilas (Brazil) [pt]
Nas Montanhas dos Gorilas - A Aventura de Dian Fossey (Brazil) [pt]
Sumuisten vuorten gorillat (Finland) [fi]

Runtime:

129 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Iceland:L | Iceland:LH (video rating) | Portugal:M/12 | Malaysia:U | Australia:M | South Korea:15 | UK:12 (video re-rating) (1999) | UK:15 (original rating) | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Sweden:11 | USA:PG-13 | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Karisoke Research Centre, Virunga Conservation Area, Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda

Company:

Guber-Peters Company, The

Trivia:

The gorilla suits used in movies up to this time had obvious anatomical differences from real gorillas; for instance, the wearer's real eyes were seen, forcing modification to the face. For this film director Michael Apted wanted to use real gorillas where possible, but some shots would have to use gorilla suits, so the difference would show. 'Rick Baker' met the challenge and created gorilla suits good enough that Apted could do what he wanted.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The scene in which Diane orchestrated the mock hanging of a poacher and another where she burned poachers' huts are fictitious.

Quotes:

Sembagare: They think you are a witch.
Dian Fossey: They wouldn't be the first.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Game-On: (#3.2)" (1998)

Soundtrack:

September in the Rain

Anyone who loves animals must see this film....

While this film may have taken certain creative license with some facts, this story is important and upsetting. Many people in the US are still not aware of the poaching issues, the wild horses that are being sold for profit now, and many horrific things that still go on, simply because animals have no one to protect their rights.

This film is upsetting and sad, but also beautiful. To see the silver back gorillas, how gentle they are to each other, and see Sigourney Weaver as Dian Fossey, who attempted to communicate and understand them.

It is sometimes difficult to learn what inhumanity man is capable of; against both humans and animals. But by learning about this issue, one may be galvanized into learning more, joining a humane association, or teaching their children to respect animals. Animals, especially in the wild are also God's creatures, and deserve to be respected. 10/10.