Tarzan

In the depths of the African jungle, a young Tarzan lived a life unlike any human could imagine. Adopted by the gorilla matriarch, Kala, he spent his childhood surrounded by the instinct and primal behavior of the animals that inhabited this mysterious world. Kala, having lost her own child, took a young Tarzan under her wing, raising him as her own with a love and care that was unmatched. This is where Tarzan's early memories originate, a time where the sounds of the jungle were his speech, the beating of the drums his mother's gentle lullaby, and the warmth of the sun on his skin a symbol of the love he received from Kala and his gorilla family. Tarzan's world is turned upside down when, on an expedition deep into the jungle, Professor Archimedes Q. Porter, a renowned zoologist, and his daughter, Jane, find themselves being pursued by the ruthless hunter, Clayton. The hunter had been tracking a massive white jaguar, and in a heart-stopping escape, Tarzan and Clayton's expedition intersect. As fate would have it, Jane becomes trapped between a deadly rhinoceros attack, and in response, Tarzan charges in to save her. His swinging vine trick amazes Jane, and for the first time in his life, Tarzan is intrigued by something beyond the jungle and its creatures. As Tarzan leads Jane deeper into the jungle, their fascination for each other becomes palpable. Over dinner, Tarzan discovers Jane's drawings, which unintentionally reveal the world beyond the trees and reveal a piece of himself he never knew existed. The enigmatic drawings embody a way of living that seems both captivating and terrifying to Tarzan. Jane's tales of cities, education, and human society create a desire within him to experience life outside the jungle's borders. Professor Porter, despite his weariness, holds onto the hope that he will find a way to bring his daughter back home. Meanwhile, a deep sense of unease had taken over Clayton. He saw his plans to get his hands on the ivory hoard going down the drain. This enigmatic world is now threatened by a stranger, and one whom he views as a rival. Clayton takes it upon himself to chase after Tarzan and Jane but falls just short, stuck in the jungle, desperately pursued by the wrath of the deadly rhinoceros which proved to be the cause of Jane's distress earlier on. Tarzan is torn between his loyalty to his gorilla family and his developing feelings for Jane. This impossible choice sets off a painful struggle within him. It's also the first time he seriously contemplates his own human identity. Jane, oblivious to the profound impact her presence has on Tarzan, shows an innocent approach, and upon discovering her sketches, gently gets to know Tarzan not as a beast but as a human. She makes a distinction that's inconspicuous yet ultimately key to the film: that of choice – free will that enables the individual to choose between two options based on desire. Through his journeys and newly awakened thoughts, Tarzan's desires emerge and strengthen as he starts to envision himself living among humans. Once he learned that Clayton plotted to kill Professor Porter in order to get the ivory so he would have both of them on his hands to deceive the professor into surrendering it for him. The entire situation makes Tarzan realize just how fragile his connection to both Jane and his gorilla friends. Amidst such existential upheaval, Kala senses a threat and asks Tarzan to promise her that he would leave Jane in the jungle after she is rescued. This seems a profoundly easy resolution for Tarzan but presents itself as a complicated decision to the audience. Loyalty, memories, and new experiences form the bedrock upon which Tarzan unravels the mystery of belonging. His attachment to his gorilla family begins to slip, giving in to curiosity and a desire to explore the human world. His change thus sparks debate not just with Jane, but more predominantly so in the audience as the plight raises questions of identity, culture, community, choice, belonging, and a potential loss in pursuit of knowledge and connections to an imaginary family. 'Tarzan,' in its essence, grapples with the dilemma through a struggle between our emotions and reason and the enigmatic tug between two human experiences; our being bound together with our ancestors and experiences linked to our upbringing or building our interests along certain principles of a different kind of existence laid out by different human or nonhuman beings around us. Torn between two worlds and lured by a chance at an unfamiliar life, Tarzan struggles to make this choice – choosing between embracing his human side and surrendering to his gorilla upbringing – leaving audiences with the sense that true belonging and identity's ambiguity aren't easily resolvable and serve to reflect genuine, relatable universal human conundrums.