MOVIE · 2010

The Elephant in the Living Room

Documentary96 min

In American suburbs, lions, pythons, and other dangerous animals are being bought and raised as pets, and this documentary follows the people living inside that trade. Former police officer Tim Harrison enters the debate after a friend is killed in an incident involving an exotic pet, while Terry Brumfield is trying to care for two African lions at home. When one of Terry’s lions escapes and turns up on a nearby highway, their paths cross with breeders, dealers, and owners who treat wild animals as household companions, tracing the risks and routines of a hidden industry operating in backyards and living rooms.