African CATS stirs the anxiety of the hunt, the awe of the creatures of wild, the warmth of feeling about motherhood in general, and the inspiration to discover more about the fauna of Africa. This is a beautifully filmed study of life in the Serengeti of Kenya. Though it is a documentary about the lives of animals who live on two sides of a river that rises and recedes with seasons, the fact that it is so carefully creative and narrated by Samuel L. Jackson makes it seem like a written story. It is successful on every level.

The film documents the lives of two prides of lions (the cats are given names to enhance the story)- one on either side of the unnamed river: on the north side is an old lioness and her young cub Mara who belong to a pride of lions protected by the snaggletoothed Fang. On the south side is a proud lion father of four grown sons who wish to cross the river to gain new territory. The river is filled with dangerous crocodiles and makes their desire for conquering dangerous. The story also focuses on Sita, a cheetah mother of five cubs whose relationship with her innocently adorable brood makes for another aspect of the tale: the cubs must learn to run, fight, and survive the threats of hyenas before Sita can leave them to return to her solitary life. Though there are many light moments in the film the directors Alastair Fothergill and Keith Scholey are careful to include the reality of life in the wild. The cycle of life is well demonstrated in the aging of the older lions - the mother of Mara and Fang - and in the problems that face the cubs as they mature.

The film includes many of the fascinating birds, the wildebeests, the gazelles, giraffes, and the many other creatures who populate this eco-clime. At films end the overwhelming sense is one of tenderness in response to the family instincts of animals in the wild. The degree of love and interaction between the cubs an their mothers is not only warmly inspiring, it also sends a message about good parenting to the humans watching the film!

Grady Harp