The impact of a film production is strongly influenced by its central theme. Therefore, topics that are problematic for our present deserve special attention. Daniel Clarkson is no exception to this rule, besides being a talented director who manages to move through the suggestiveness of the images he captures. His short documentary thus delivers a message that we already know but which becomes more and more delicate every day since it tangentially addresses that natural catastrophic imminence worthy of an ecological dystopia. ‘The Last Cheetahs‘ addresses only a fragment of this causality in the line of documentaries warning of the possible extinction of a species, which puts into a wider context the fragility of ecosystems necessary for the demands of the normality we wish to preserve. Born on the one hand out of this subtextual stake to address the accelerated degradation of nature’s subtle links, and on the other hand out of a desire to make viewers aware of the tragic fate of certain animal species, this short documentary is both an opportunity to dive into the fascinating wild world of Africa and an experience that leaves a bitter taste behind.
As with many documentary or fictional productions with similar stakes, Daniel Clarkson’s project is both a wake-up call and an opportunity to admire the (ephemeral?) beauty of a corner of nature that has almost mythical roots. His short documentary thus succinctly illustrates the decline of a species, from the near-godlike status that cheetahs used to have in folkloric imagery to the present, where the caretakers of Kenya’s Masai Mara reserve are trying to protect some of the last survivors. With the same conviction with which he defends the cause of this endangered species, but without adopting a moralistic style, the director laments the depths of human ignorance and selfishness, delivering with remarkable skill an overwhelmingly beautiful foray into the colours and vibrations of a world struggling for survival. The film, narrated and enriched by testimonies from dedicated conservationists, captivates with its vivid and well-organized imagery. ‘The Last Cheetahs’ impresses with the professionalism of its creative team and offers an important, though not entirely new, view on the delicate balance of nature that humanity is at risk of permanently disrupting.
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