Monkey Kingdom

A kingdom of monkeys, willfully surviving in the ancient jungles of Sri Lanka, abiding by a deadly set of oppressive rules, feasts for the strong, tribulations for the hesitant, henchmen, security, governesses, belittled by the brawn, forced into isolation, after fathering a child, Kumar subsists on the fringe, his mate Maya languishing on the bottom, suffering ritual humiliations, lonely, crittered, scorned.

But not desperate.

Ingenuity shines its radiant light upon her, as she bravely discovers new food sources, thereby boldly ensuring the health of her child.

The group is ruled by an alpha male, the same alpha who expelled Kumar for his playful insolence, allowing him to return after a period of suffering, but when a rival clan of covetous toque macaques approaches and attacks, the alpha cannot securely protect their domain.

They must flee.

To the realm of homo sapiens.

Within the city, Kumar and Maya's plucky entrepreneurial know-how encourages scandalous full stomachs as they take advantage of unsuspecting humans.

Kumar's authority is slowly legitimized.

As they travel home, to reclaim their land.

It's a wild look at social dynamics, Disneynature's Monkey Kingdom, where either might and/or intelligence gains respect, and respect's required to officiate and rule.

You keep wondering why they don't share the best fruit, why they can't all find enlightened branches to rest upon, perhaps they do with Kumar at the helm, who may not be as concerned with rank and discipline.

Perhaps not though, difficult to say, the parallels between the social structures of these monkeys and those occasionally adopted by human kind are striking, bequest the monsoon, intertribal, intertwined.

The sloth bears don't pay attention.

The film communally showcases many of Kumar and Maya's neighbours.

Tough to say how closely their story matches what actually took place, at least when they visit the city.

It's a fascinating story however, quite possibly true.

Narrated by Tina Fey.