Emily Mody - Wolves Unleashed: Against All Odds (CUFF.Docs 2018)

Posted on Saturday, December 01, 2018 at 06:00 PM

Wolves Unleashed: Against All Odds (CUFF.Docs 2018)

Review by Emily Mody x CalgaryMovies.com

Wolves Unleashed: Against All Odds is a feature length documentary film directed by Andrew Simpson. This story is the second instalment in the series following Andrew Simpson and the wolves he trains for feature films. In this film, Simpson and his team travel to China where they train a pack of wolves from pups and battle the elements in a harsh, rural landscape.

I had seen the first film in this series, Wolves Unleashed, back in 2011 during the Calgary International Film Festival. I was so excited when I saw that there was a second instalment being screened at the Calgary Underground Film Festival this year. I enjoyed the original so much and I was happy to see that Against All Odds stayed within the same vein. This film deals with a new pack of wolves and a different landscape but the challenges remain very much the same. Pack dynamics and intuitively untrusting animals leads to the need for complex problem solving during filming. Andrew Simpson is so passionate about what he does and that is made extremely evident in this film. He has a respect and love for wolves that is captivating to watch. If you have seen the first film and you enjoyed it you will most, undoubtedly, enjoy this one.

In the off chance that you have not seen the first film you can also compare Against All Odds to the documentary, Living with Wolves written by Mose Richards. This film follows Jamie and Jim Dutcher as they live with and study a wolf pack for three years. The story covers how Jamie and Jim met, how their relationship progressed while they lived on separate sides of the country, and ultimately how they came together through their love of wolves. Living with Wolves places more emphasis on how wolves are in their natural environment whereas, Against All Odds places more emphasis on what wolves are capable of adapting to. Regardless, however, both films are educational in nature and moving.

Given it’s educational structure and goal of understanding wolves as a compassionate and beautiful animal I think this film is appropriate for all audiences. I would recommend this film to anyone who is an animal lover. I would also suggest this film to anyone who has an interest in the natural environment and harsh landscapes. I highly recommend this film and the first as well, although one is not dependent on the other.

Wolves Unleashed: Against All Odds is 86 minutes long. This film is currently unrated. Wolves Unleashed: Against All Odds will be screening as a part of Calgary's Documentary Film Festival (CUFF.Docs 2018) on December 02, 2018 at 7:00pm at The Globe Cinema.

Calgary Showtimes:  Wolves Unleashed: Against All Odds >