Review: Trophy

There is a central moment in the complex and accomplished documentary Trophy in which an expedition in Africa goes awry. A hunter rashly shoots a young elephant. The scene is harrowing for anyone who appreciates these amazing creatures. Documentarians Shaul Schwarz and Christina Clusiau capture the entire event in broad daylight. But that is not all they capture.

They show all sides of the death of the young elephant. The hunter and his party are disappointed as they planned to kill a much older elephant. We learn that younger ones are kept alive for breeding and conservationist purposes. The locals, who eat elephant, complain that there is not enough meat on such a young elephant. They also paint a clear picture that large elephants are a threat to their livestock  Trophy excels at painting such complex pictures of events surrounding big game hunting in Africa. The situation forces one to take a more holistic view of an issue that is easy to be one-sided about and draw correlations between conservationism, poverty and big game hunting.

The documentary is meticulous in spending time with all viewpoints. We get hunters, ranchers, animal right activist, anti-poachers, and citizens living in the midst of it all. The web the film paints will astound anyone who thinks they know all the issues at play in the killing of rhinos, tigers, elephants and other species. Schwarz and Clusiau are true journalists, never passing judgment but rather documenting, listening, and considering each part of this puzzle. 

While the film tries to show all sides, it perhaps will frustrate some looking for a clear agenda. There is no question that the "pay to hunt" market for exotic animals is deplorable but the film often balances even the most horrific actions with an examination of the motives behind it. One nearly impossible scene to watch features a roccus group of hunters who have paid for a trophy. They shoot an alligator at close range, yell "yeah motherf*cker" and take photos. This, like a few other moments in Trophy, will break any animal lovers heart. And yet we understand, in contrast, that this market is a living for many people and some population control is needed of certain species. 

Trophy is a remarkable work of journalism. Schwarz and Clusiau commit fully to showing every side and consider every argument of this issue. In doing so they create an immensely complex understanding of the market and conservation of big game animals. The film is a tough watch at times, but one gains a thoughtful, mature and smart picture of all the factors at play. This is especially true if all you know of this issue is the controversy surrounding the shooting of Cecil the lion and the dentist who shot him and was publicly shamed. What more can we ask from a documentary that to make us wiser after viewing it?

4.5/5