This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Nov. 22, 2010 - The Oprah Winfrey Network has acquired the rights to the documentary film "One Lucky Elephant," the bittersweet story of David Balding, founder and director of St. Louis's Circus Flora, and the female elephant that gave the circus its name. The film is expected to be shown in the spring as part of the new network's documentary film series.
The Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) will debut on cable television Jan. 1.
"One Lucky Elephant" was a popular feature of the Stella Artois St. Louis International Film Festival, which ended Sunday, Nov. 21. Following the showing at the film festival, authorities on animal behavior joined the audience for a lively discussion on the boundaries of relationships between humans and other species. Acquisition of the film by the Oprah Winfrey Network was announced by the St. Louis Regional Arts Commission, which helped fund the festival.
Flora, an African elephant, was adopted by Balding about 25 years ago, when she was a baby who had been orphaned when her mother was killed by hunters. For many years, she was the living symbol of the circus. When she reached her teens, she began occasionally acting aggressively, and Balding decided to find a home for her with other elephants. Film director Lisa Leeman spent nine years documenting Balding's search and its bittersweet results.
Harper Barnes is a freelance journalist who reviews movies for the Beacon.