THE WOMAN WHO LOVES GIRAFFES
This inspiring documentary tells the remarkable true story of Anne Innis Dagg, a pioneering scientist whose groundbreaking research on giraffes starting in the 1950s was nearly forgotten — until now.
“Fascinating,” critic Tomris Laffly writes in Variety.
“A far-ranging story of scientific discovery, sexual discrimination and environmental alarm,” Jeannette Catsoulis writes in The New York Times.
“Will likely bring tears to your eyes,” Susan Wloszczyna writes for the Alliance of Women Film Journalists.
Long before Jane Goodall started studying chimpanzees, Dagg ventured alone to South Africa to study giraffes in the wild, becoming the first Westerner to conduct field research on the species.
Her groundbreaking research would have typically earned her a top place in academia. Instead, she was shut out.
Despite publishing dozens of studies and books and teaching at universities, she was sidelined by the scientific community — not because of her work, but because she was a woman with a family.
Decades later, her contributions are finally recognized, and she returns to Africa in this documentary to see how giraffe populations — and attitudes toward women in science — have changed.
Blending archival footage, personal letters and stunning wildlife imagery, this award-winning motion picture is a moving portrait of resilience, passion and a deep, lifelong love for one of the world’s most majestic animals.
Released in 2019, the 82-minute film is unrated and won three festival awards, including the Audience Award for Best Documentary at California’s Sonoma International Film Festival.
“Passionate, funny and modest, Dagg is the sort of ‘character’ documentarians dream of finding,” critic Chris Hewitt wrote for the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
The film’s trailer can be found on YouTube at tinyurl.com/Giraffes-MoviesWithSpirit.
The screening will be followed by a discussion. Refreshments will be served.
Attendees over age 12 are asked to contribute $10 a person.
Movies With Spirit screenings comply with all federal, state and local health and safety protocols, including those of the screening venues.
The monthly Movies With Spirit series, organized by Gerry Harrington of Kingston, seeks to stimulate joy and wonder, inspire love and compassion, and help people understand their connection with others and with life itself. It supports all cultures, faiths and beliefs while sometimes transcending them.
