A famous gorilla will return to Cincinnati in spirit this month with the release of the animal rights documentary Harambe.
Harambe was a lowland silverback gorilla who lived at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens. He was shot and killed May 28, 2016, after a child fell into his enclosure and zoo officials feared for the child’s safety.
The feature-length documentary — by Erik E. Crown, produced by Sierra Williams and narrated by Peter Egan — will premiere Sept. 24, World Gorilla Day, at the Esquire Theatre in Clifton. It promises to explore animal captivity from a modern perspective through the lens of Harambe’s life at the zoo and his tragic death, as well as offer insight and new information about his death. Filmmakers say there is also new proof in the documentary that Harambe was trying to save the child, not harm him.
Harambe will feature never-before-seen photos and videos of the gorilla, along with exclusive interviews from animal rights activists, wildlife experts and even Harambe’s personal photographer, Jeff McCurry.
“Using modern scientific research and understanding, the movie takes a closer look into the troubling and complex history of zoos, and how their colonial beginnings sowed the seeds of captivity that’s now deeply rooted in our cultures, sold to the public as a fun afternoon with the family. With fresh eyes, this documentary challenges the stories, myths, and misconceptions we have always been told – stories that have been controlled by the zoos, until now,” filmmakers said in a press release.
A portion of the documentary’s proceeds will be donated to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) helping gorillas out of captivity.
You can see Harambe at the Esquire Sunday, Sept. 24 at 3 p.m., which will be followed by a Q&A and a candlelight vigil outside the theater in honor of Harambe. Buy tickets here.
You can also watch the documentary online at Gathr.com Sept. 24 at 3 p.m. for $8.
Esquire Theatre, 320 Ludlow Ave., Clifton. Learn more about the documentary here: harambemovie.com.
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This article appears in Sep 6-19, 2023.
