Trailer for Last of the Elephant Men which will be screening at the Hot Docs Film Festival.
The Bunong people of Cambodia share a profound bond with elephants. This unique relationship is at the core of the tribe’s identity and is the result of skills passed between breeders over centuries. Sadly, their mystical connection with these majestic animals is threatened by deforestation and development that continues to encroach on their traditional lands. Now dependent on foreign tourists seeking exotic thrills, their indigenous livelihood and cultural heritage is disappearing. Struggling to adapt amidst rapid change, three generations of elephant owners fight to preserve their way of life in this poetic tale of a vanishing paradise. From an elderly sage who can communicate with sacred forces to a young man who is learning the skills of mastering these powerful creatures, can the committed few find a way forward when confronting the voracious forces of globalization?