Into the darkness of heart

VIRUNGA (B+) - Orlando von Einsiedel and his team of brave cameramen venture deep into the forested area of east Congo to the Virunga national park to examine the dark heart of voracious humans.

The park, home to some of the last mountain gorillas on earth, happens to sit above a newfound trove of oil. That triggers the requisite grab for land, with a typically heartless oil company apparently conniving with local rebels to close in on the territory. The region is all-too familiar with civil war and western hunger for natural resources (precious metals in the past).

One reporter goes undercover to gain grainy footage of conversations with the company's representatives who don't bother to mask their greed or their underhanded methods. The camera operators embed with the ranger force that protects the park. All are waiting for the inevitable assault from a rebel group. Families in the area scamper onto vehicles, leaving possessions behind. The ragtag force of rangers steels for battle while bonding with the gorillas they tend to.

The storytelling here is impressive. The filmmakers don't flinch as they help hold down the fort.  The only real flaw here is the pacing. The run-up to the climax feels a bit dragged out, while the final confrontation seems rushed. The courageous effort here is undeniable; the final product feels just a little too manufactured to make it a great documentary.

BONUS TRACK
The movie's theme song, written by J. Ralph and performed by Salif Keita, Youssou Ndour and Fally Ipupa: