Askari
Alternative Titles:
Ollie (US)
Directed By:
David Lister
Writing Credits:
John Cundill, Ashley Way
Cast:
Marlee Matlin, Amanda Fuller, Brendan Pollecutt
Year Of Release:
2001
Running Time:
85 min.
CT's Character:
Joss Mc Kinley
Plot Outline:
A
helicopter accident leaves 16 year-old Emma Crawshay orphaned and sent to live with her
aunt and uncle on a wild African game farm. On her arrival however, tensions are brought
to the fore. Her aunt, Paula
McKinley, a beautiful and respected elephant conservationist, is fighting to come to terms
with her sister’s death and buries herself in her work. She virtually ignores her
niece who only serves as a painful reminder of her own loss.Their mutual love of elephants
however, gradually brings Paula and Emma together, and helps them to deal with their
grief. Emma quickly finds her favourite, a cheeky young elephant named ‘Ollie’
and through him she comes to cherish her new environment. However, Paula’s husband,
Joss McKinley the game warden has a secret he’s hiding from both of them. Spiralling
elephant numbers have resulted in overcrowding on the farm and Joss’ sinister boss,
Patrick Khumalo, forces him into agreeing to a cull. Torn between emotion and reason, the
family becomes as threatened as the elephants themselves. Paula learns of the proposed
cull, tearing her and Joss apart. She retreats once more into her grief, now brewing with
a desperate anger. Set against the wild and beautiful scenery, Joss must battle an evil
hunter, Ripshaw, and his mysterious tracker, Ndlovu two dangerous ivory poachers who
kidnap ‘Ollie’ to sell overseas. Meanwhile, Patrick sets up the cull to wipe out
hundreds of elephants, which will secretly make him and Ripshaw rich through illegal ivory
trading. Their desperate attempt to save the elephants brings the family together in a
finale as breathtaking and unforgiving as the African landscape itself.
Official Sites:
Is It Available To Buy:
Yes! Buy it on DVD from
www.play.com (region 2 dvd only)
or try www.ebay.com