No Fear, No Favor 2021
Distributed by Bullfrog Films, PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547; 800-543-FROG (3764)
Produced by Richard Brockman and Mirra Bank
Directed by Mirra Bank
Streaming, 66 mins
College - General Adult
Ecology; African Studies; Wildlife Conservation
Date Entered: 10/04/2021
Reviewed by Kristan Majors, Woodruff Library, Emory UniversitySeeking to show a different perspective from the typical anti-poaching documentaries, No Fear, No Favor stands out from the crowd. This documentary is filmed in the villages near several of southern Africa’s national parks and explores community involvement from several countries. While this film, like its contenders, includes ample footage of slaughtered animals, orphaned animals, and armed rangers fighting poachers, there is also unique and hopeful footage well worth students hearing and seeing. Viewers will learn of several community conservancies and the options being explored beyond park rangers and ecotourism.
Viewers will benefit the most from this film if they are knowledgeable on the terminology and issues. Audiences can include college students and those preparing to work in related areas, including conservation and management of endangered species, community-based management of national parks, and development studies in Africa. For academic audiences, this is likely best shown within a film series. Complementary documentaries highlighting community efforts to reduce the human-wildlife conflict include Milking the Rhino and the PBS Newshour episode from July 2020 on the Congo Basin and its indigenous hunters. Teachers can make this film work in their classrooms by identifying in advance sections to fast forward through to allow time for discussion. For instance, to show only the experiences from villagers and other locals will total about 35-45 minutes. Classes will benefit from both supplementary readings and discussions to provide more context to the management options briefly explored in the film.
Awards:Award of Excellence, Impact Docs; Award of Excellence, Docs Without Borders; Award of Excellence, Accolade Global Film Competition; Award of Merit, IndieFest Film Awards; Filmmakers' Choice Award, Andrew Sabin Family Foundation Environmental Award, Hamptons DocFest; Outstanding Cinematography, Tallgrass International Film Festival; Outstanding Excellence: Cinematography, Excellence: Feature, Nature Without Borders
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