Screened as part of NZIFF 2017

Born in China 2016

Directed by Lu Chuan Framing Reality

Disney’s famed nature documentary unit brings the epic journey of three animal families enduring China’s vast and unforgiving terrain spectacularly to the big screen.

China / USA In English
79 minutes DCP

Director

Producers

Phil Chapman
,
Roy Conli
,
Brian Leith

Screenplay

David Fowler
,
Brian Leith
,
Phil Chapman
,
Lu Chuan

Photography

Irmin Kerck
,
Justin Maguire
,
Shane Moore
,
Rolf Steinmann
,
Paul Stewart

Editor

Matthew Meech

Music

Barnaby Taylor

Narrator

John Krasinski

Festivals

San Francisco 2017

The visual splendour of the natural world and its extraordinary creatures is captured on a grand scale in this true-life adventure from Disneynature – ideal for young animal lovers.

In an epic tale of four seasons, we follow some of the animal families that populate various corners of China’s expansive terrain. Meet Ya Ya, a loving panda bear mother guiding her growing baby Mei Mei as she begins to explore and seek independence; Tao Tao, a mischievous two-year-old golden snub-nosed monkey nudged toward self-sufficiency after the arrival of his new baby sister; and Dawa, a mother snow leopard – an elusive animal rarely caught on camera – facing the very real drama of raising her two cubs in one of the harshest and most unforgiving environments on the planet.

The footage captured on this epic journey into the wilds of China is breathtaking for its access and intimacy – presented as an opportunity for young audiences to relate the natural world to their own lives, and to contemplate the mysteries of the circle of life. —NM

“Directed by Lu Chuan and narrated by John Krasinski, Born in China features stunning cinematography that spans China’s vast landscape, from the frigid and jagged mountains of the west to the deepest points of the lush bamboo forest. By offering a remarkably intimate look into the lives of some of the world’s most majestic animals, the film highlights the importance of continued global conservation efforts to protect them and their natural habitats.”— TIFF KIDS 2017


Note: Animal survival depicted. Some scenes may be upsetting for very young children