Lucy: The Stolen Lives of Elephants – You may never view a zoo the same way again

“I was 15 years old when I beat my first elephant.”

That’s likely not the sentence you’d expect to start a review. However, it also gives insight into the tone of Lucy: The Stolen Lives of Elephants, the first documentary to expose the cruel treatment of elephants in zoos. Using the traumatic story of the Edmonton Zoo’s elephant, Lucy as the driving force behind the narrative, the film exposes zoos as glorified prisons and demands the transport of their elephants to sanctuaries around the world.

Directed by Fern Levitt, it goes without saying that Lucy: The Stolen Lives of Elephants is a difficult watch. By going undercover, Levitt highlights the shocking conditions of animal abuse all around the world. In many ways, this is guerilla filmmaking. Levitt and her team step in behind the lines in order to gain as much information as possible. (It’s worth noting that Levitt states that lawsuits have been threatened for taking this approach.)

With every interview with former zookeepers and trainers, Levitt never allows the viewer to get comfortable. In fact, for many, the film will likely be disturbing. Using behind the scenes footage, the viewer watches as animals are beaten or ‘hooked’ into subservience. We hear stories of elephants that struggle with their mental health and watch infants taken away from their mothers. We see Lucy as she is kept in the foulest of conditions. All of these images are meant to shake us to the core. Worst of all, although Lucy’s story may be the crux of the film, this is ultimately a call for zoos around the world to be held accountable. 

However, the most unsettling aspect of the film is that these feel like safe, family spaces. By naming familiar locations such as African Lion Safari or the Edmonton Zoo, Levitt pulls back the curtain on spaces that families have viewed with a sense of safety. Most parents have brought their children to see the animals in their local zoo. But Levitt’s unflinching camera highlights the horrors that occur behind the scenes. To parents, it’s an opportunity to share nature’s glory with their children. But, behind the barriers, the treatment of these lovable beasts shows man’s darkest impulses. 

“It’s a beautiful façade,” we’re told.

In formal interviews, we hear zookeepers share why their facilities are up to code. The animals are happy. They have enough stimulation. We ensure that they have the proper care. However, just as quickly, Levitt and her team go on the attack as well, revealing the truths behind the lies. 

But Lucy doesn’t leave the audience in the dark. With an eye looking forward, Levitt points out that the future of zoos may lie outside of the animal kingdom. In order to give children the opportunity to learn about animals properly, the film wants to explore technology that may eliminate the use of live animals. Animatronics and virtual reality are shown as alternatives that could help the next generation of youth explore the natural world without damaging it in the process. (“Children are obsessed with dinosaurs yet they’ve never seen one,” one technician argues.)

It’s in this argument that the film could become a tough pill to swallow for some viewers. After all, zoos on the whole have been a part of the collective consciousness for (potentially) centuries. Demanding greater accountability for organizations such as the Edmonton Zoo are one thing. But will the average family support immersive technology as a substitute? 

Even so, Lucy: The Stolen Lives of Elephants remains a powerful call to action. This is not the sort of film that one can simply walk away from without seeing things differently. Here, Levitt points out the Lucy’s story is merely one of countless examples. Crying out for justice, Lucy demands a response. But be aware that the call for that response will undoubtedly disturb.

Lucy: The Stolen Lives of Elephants is available in theatres on Friday, March 21^st, 2025.