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Short Documentary Review: The Guardian and the Deity (2019) by Sunil Gurung & Promod Saikia

“Guardian and the Deity” is a short documentary that explores elephant/human relations in Assam. The production focuses on the need for conservation as well as addressing the human created issues that threatens the elephants safety.

The four minute documentary comes across as a starting point towards a deeper discussion, more so than a comprehensive documentary. Given this was new information to me, there was very little actually learned from the production, other than the existence of a conflict. With my interest in the subject matter not really applicable to where I live, there was not really much to grasp onto. However, with those interested in conservation, I can see it as a positive start to opening a broader discussion on human/elephant relations in the area.

The footage for the production came from a few different sources, including archived footage, drone work, and additional footage shot for the documentary. Thankfully, this footage is well edited together, and the short film has a nice flow. The score, although stock music, was well chosen, and the narration is clear and articulate. Overall, the presentation does justice to the film’s subject matter, and the nature documentary format.

“The Guardian and the Deity” is a well presented short documentary, which should appeal to fans of nature documentaries, and those interested in conservation. Unfortunately, for audiences who are not affected by the situation, the lack of information only offers up footage of elephants.

About the author

Adam Symchuk

Adam Symchuk is a Canadian born freelance writer and editor who has been writing for Asian Movie Pulse since 2018. He is currently focused on covering manga, manhwa and light novels having reviewed hundreds of titles in the past two years.

His love of film came from horror and exploitation films from Japan that he devoured in his teens. His love of comics came from falling in love with the works of Shuzo Oshimi, Junji Ito, Hideshi Hino, and Inio Asano but has expanded to a general love of the medium and all its genres.

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