This film is part of Rentals

The Ark: The Political Animal
The third episode in documentary filmmaker Molly Dineenβs BAFTA-winning series The Ark.
Director: Molly Dineen
Overview
The Political Animal is the third in a quartet of films in which director Molly Dineen reveals the inner workings of London Zoo as the institution is rocked by uncertainty and change. This episode builds towards a cliff-hanger ending, through a series of beautifully interconnected scenes with the keepers, and glimpses of management meetings held as the political and financial crisis comes to a head. As the title suggests, this is the beginning of a battle of wits and nerve between the free market culture represented by the management and the world of scientific endeavour and conservation represented by a group of keepers and fellows of the ZSL.
Winner of Best Factual Series at the BAFTA TV Awards in 1993.
Related

Two Strangers Trying Not to Kill Each Other Two Strangers Trying Not to Kill Each Other
Documentary 100 mins Director: Manon Ouimet and Jacob Perlmutter
A creative artist couple navigate love and ageing in this brave, fascinating documentary.

Dust & Metal Dust & Metal
Documentary 2022 82 mins Director: Esther Johnson
Discover unfamiliar histories of Vietnam through Esther Johnsonβs poetic documentary on the countryβs love affair with the motorbike.

Mogwai: If the Stars Had a Sound Mogwai: If the Stars Had a Sound
Documentary 2024 91 mins Director: Antony Crook
Celestial sonic odyssey charting the cult Scottish bandβs expansive career from the mid-90s to their tenth studio album written during lockdown.

Twiggy Twiggy
Documentary 2024 94 mins Director: Sadie Frost
International supermodel, actor, singer and one of the most iconic British figures β this is the real story of Twiggy.

Ernest Cole: Lost and Found Ernest Cole: Lost and Found
Documentary 2024 107 mins Director: Raoul Peck
Raoul Peckβs sorrowful portrait of Ernest Cole, the first photographer to expose the horrors of apartheid to the world.

The Rubber-Keyed Wonder The Rubber-Keyed Wonder
Documentary 2024 141 mins Director: Anthony Caulfield and Nicola Caulfield
If you are a fan of the ZX Spectrum, grew up in the 80s or 90s or just love video games then this film is for you!

Sound Business Sound Business
Documentary 1981 57 mins Director: Molly Dineen
Molly Dineenβs directorial debut presents a fascinating look into sound system culture, as well as an important document in the history of Black British music.

In the Company of Men: The Brotherhood In the Company of Men: The Brotherhood
Documentary 1995 60 mins Director: Molly Dineen
This third and final film in Molly Dineenβs three-part series builds towards the βThe Prince of Wales' company of the Welsh Guardsβ symbolic victory parade in Brussels.

In the Company of Men: Commander In the Company of Men: Commander
Documentary 1995 59 mins Director: Molly Dineen
The first episode of Molly Dineen's three-part series follows Major Crispin Black as he considers the course his life could have taken if he hadn't joined the army.

The Ark: Survival of the Fittest The Ark: Survival of the Fittest
Documentary 1993 58 mins Director: Molly Dineen
Molly Dineen reveals the inner workings of London Zoo as the institution is rocked by uncertainty and change in the first in a BAFTA-winning series of four films.

The Lords' Tale The Lords' Tale
Documentary 2002 86 mins Director: Molly Dineen
Molly Dineenβs astute political documentary follows the abolition of hereditary peers and the resulting upheaval in parliament during the New Labour era.

My African Farm My African Farm
Documentary 1988 40 mins Director: Molly Dineen
Molly Dineenβs uncompromising portrait of spirited 78-year-old widow, Sylvia Richardson, on her farm in the foothills of Mount Kenya.

Two Strangers Trying Not to Kill Each Other Two Strangers Trying Not to Kill Each Other
Documentary 100 mins Director: Manon Ouimet and Jacob Perlmutter
A creative artist couple navigate love and ageing in this brave, fascinating documentary.

The Last Showgirl The Last Showgirl
Drama 2024 89 mins Director: Gia Coppola
Golden Globe-nominated Pamela Anderson is enchanting as the Las Vegas showgirl whose stage show is set to close.

Dust & Metal Dust & Metal
Documentary 2022 82 mins Director: Esther Johnson
Discover unfamiliar histories of Vietnam through Esther Johnsonβs poetic documentary on the countryβs love affair with the motorbike.

Mogwai: If the Stars Had a Sound Mogwai: If the Stars Had a Sound
Documentary 2024 91 mins Director: Antony Crook
Celestial sonic odyssey charting the cult Scottish bandβs expansive career from the mid-90s to their tenth studio album written during lockdown.

Flow Flow
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2024 85 mins Director: Gints Zilbalodis
Oscar-winning animated adventure about an unlikely group of animals who must work together to survive a natural disaster.

Invasion Invasion
Science Fiction 1966 79 mins Director: Alan Bridges
An alien fugitive, injured in a road accident, pitches up at a rural hospital. But when two intergallactic pursuers arrive, things start to heat up...