Island of Lemurs: Madagascar
Directed by David Douglas
TheoScope Rating
Worldview · content · moral framework
Plot
Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman narrates Island of Lemurs: Madagascar, the incredible true story of nature's greatest explorers - lemurs. Captured with IMAX 3D cameras, the film takes audiences on a spectacular journey to the remote and wondrous world of Madagascar. Lemurs arrived in Madagascar as castaways millions of years ago and evolved into hundreds of diverse species but are now highly endangered. Join trailblazing scientist Patricia Wright on her lifelong mission to help these strange and adorable creatures survive in the modern world. Directed by David Douglas and written and produced by Drew Fellman, Island of Lemurs: Madagascar is a presentation of Warner Bros. Pictures and IMAX Entertainment.
Discern Score Breakdown
30%
30%
25%
15%
Audience Suitability
Kids
Under 10
Teens
10–17
Adults
18+
Family
Mixed ages
Content Flags
Island of Lemurs: Madagascar is a visually stunning, entirely wholesome IMAX documentary appropriate for nearly all ages. Its primary concern for Christian families is its uncritical evolutionary framework and the complete absence of any spiritual or theological dimension, not any moral or content problem. It is an excellent opportunity to discuss creation stewardship and the wonder of God's handiwork.
Pastoral Take
This is a genuinely safe and beautiful film for the whole family, including young children — you will not need to fast-forward anything or field uncomfortable questions about content. The one thing to be ready for is the evolutionary framing, which is woven throughout the narration as assumed fact; if your family holds a creationist or intelligent design view, treat this as a natural opportunity to talk about how we evaluate scientific claims through a biblical lens rather than a reason to avoid the film. The wonder it inspires at the natural world is real and God-honoring, even if the film itself never names the One who made it.
Discussion Points
- 1The film shows Patricia Wright spending decades of her life in Madagascar to protect lemurs that most people have never even heard of. Why do you think God might care about creatures like lemurs, even ones that seem small or far away? Can you think of any Bible verses that talk about how God feels about the animals He made?
- 2The narrator tells us that lemurs evolved and changed over millions of years to fit their environment. Our family believes God created the world — so how do you think we should think about what scientists say when it's different from what the Bible says? How can we keep loving science and still trust Scripture?
- 3In Genesis 1, God gives people the job of caring for the earth and its creatures. When you saw the forests being cut down and the lemurs losing their homes, what did that make you feel? Do you think Christians have a responsibility to care about endangered animals — and if so, what does that actually look like?
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Cast
Patricia Wright, Morgan Freeman, Hantanirina Rasamimanana
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