VIRUNGA

"Virunga is the best documentary I've seen this year. In fact, it is one of the best I've ever seen. Well told, vital and challenging." – PBS

The Congo's Virunga National Park is home to some of the world's last surviving gorillas. It's also home to armed conflict and oil reserves. On this volatile turf, Emmanuel de Merode – a Belgian prince – and his fellow rangers are the last line of defence between the companies, poachers, corrupt officials and militant groups that threaten the park's endangered inhabitants.

Director Orlando von Einsiedel spent two years in Virunga, documenting the armed rangers' often life-threatening, literal fight to protect biodiversity: indeed, just days before Virunga's debut at Tribeca, de Merode was hospitalised after being shot four times.

Powerful, stirring and visually spectacular, Virunga packs an emotional wallop.

"Enough action, pathos, suspense, venal villains, stalwart heroes and endangered gorillas for a dozen fiction films ... extraordinary." – Variety