Mosley

Directed By: Kirby Atkins
Written By: Kirby Atkins
Produced By: Bill Boyce, Daniel Story, David Townsend, Yang Uhe, Chen Yengyu
Starring: Kirby Atkins, Leah Atkins, Rhys Darby, Lucy Lawless, Temuera Morrison,
Timothy Raby, John Rhys-Davies, Daryl Habraken
Music By: Alain Mayrand Harry Hansen
Production: Huhu Studios, China Film Animation
Release Date: 10 October 2019

Plot: In ancient times, the thoriphants were a tall bipedal species who migrated north in response to human encroachment. Those that stayed behind were enslaved by humanity, who used them as beasts of burden. Gradually, their backs became bent and they lost the use of their hands. Some thoriphants believe that their cousins known as the Uprights will return to free them one day.

A young thoriphant named Mosley is auctioned off and sold to a farmer named Simon, who uses him to plough his fields. Twenty five years later, Mosley and his mate Bera have produced a son named Rue. Mosley and his family are also acquainted with Turpin, who serves as a beast of burden to traveling salesman Bemus and his associates Shank and Ollie. Later, Bemus tries to swindle Simon into purchasing a nearby rocky field. Simon agrees to sell Rue after Bera has given birth to her child, much to the dismay of Mosley and Bera.

Later that night Rue, guided by several fireflies, leads Mosley to a cave lined with drawings showing Upright Thoriphants. A dispirited Mosley dismisses them as fairy tales. Mosley and Bera later overhear Simon agreeing to sell Rue to Bemus following the birth of her second child. To save their son, Bera convinces Mosley to escape the following day and return to the caves in order to seek clues on how to find the "Uprights."

Despite being pursued by Simon, Bemus, Shank and Ollie, Mosley manages to escape into the forest. In response, Bemus convinces Simon to hire the services of the ruthless, tattooed bounty hunter Warfield to bring back Mosley alive. Inside the cave, Mosley stumbles into a sinkhole trap planted by Warfield. However, he manages to escape when Shank and Ollie interfere. Following a pursuit, Mosley manages to hide behind a waterfall with the help of several fireflies.

Review: It's important for parents to understand the film deals with several difficult issues. The first being cruelty and the threat of cruelly to animals. The second is the subject of slavery or enforced labour. The film centres on a mythical creature called the "Thoriphants". A unique animal that not only is strong and robust but also can speak and u understand what humans say to them. This combination made them valuable as beasts of burden. Over the many years they were used as such beasts they had forgotten their history. Where they cam from and who their race once was.

With his family under threat, Mosley (voiced by Kirby Atkins) goes in search of a tribe of Thoriphants who legend says had broken free of their shackles. Mosley's partner Bera (Lucy Lawless) encourages him to go on his journey in search of that missing part of their shared history and a way to reclaim their freedom. In many ways this aspect reflects slavery and forced labourer A topic that would be useful for a family discussion.

Through the course of the film there are several main characters that stand out. Of course Mosley who is the protagonist, his partner who is supportive, a cruel animal tracker named Warfield who relentlessly tracks and attacks both Mosley and other Thoriphants. And there are the elders, such as Elder Deaver, who helps Mosley find his way to the lost city of Thoriphants.

This is a complex and harsh film but one that would be well suited to older children who are ready to talk about some of life's harder issues and tackle some questions that arise.

M J Flack