'The Last Lions': A National Geographic Documentary

Dereck and Beverly Joubert's National Geographic Documentary, "The Last Lions," transcends what's expected from nature documentaries. It follows the inspiring narrative of the lone lioness Ma di Tau (Mother of Lions), displaced from her pride and engaged in protecting her cubs.

These daring filmmakers observed Africa's dwindling big cat population for over 28 years. This particular natural drama plays out in the Botswana Okavango Delta. What begins as a territorial battle emerges as a story of adaptation and perseverance; essential elements for a lion's survival.

Especially if that lioness is a single mother with a vengeful, bloodthirsty pride on her tail and a terrain unnatural to her instincts ahead. A river delta is often a place for animals of prey, like water buffalo, to find sanctuary from predators. Cornered by territorial prides and human civilization, Ma di Tau's only option is to swim the confluence of adaptation and survival.

All nature films deal with the human-projected drama of survival. Especially in the unforgiving food chain, where's its fight, flight or be eaten. "The Last Lions" is no exception, but the film gets closer, literally and figuratively. In filming footage, Dereck Joubert said, "Generally we're situated about 20 to 30 paces from the action." Seeing "The Last Lions" on the big screen, as it tours the country in limited theatrical runs, realizes this proximity with breathtaking cinematography.

Between the poetic narration of Jeremy Irons and this unprecedented footage of Africa's lions, the filmmaking veers into artistic territory. Playing with tones and colors, the Joubert's shot composition holistically captures symbolic moments in Ma di Tau's journey. Only with great dedication, unwavering awareness and luck of the gods do filmmakers get such footage. It seems the stars aligned for this story to come to life for the Jouberts.

Though, as with any documentary, it is in spending time with the subject that filmmakers find the boldest narrative. Check out Abby Johnson's movie review of "The Last Lions" here on AssociatedContent from Yahoo!