“Captive Giants” is a silent, philosophical, and environmentally conscious cinematic sketch set in the Vienna Zoo, observed through the lens of animal welfare and captivity. This film quietly follows some of the zoo’s oldest and most iconic inhabitants:
giant Seychelles tortoises, giant arapaima fish, and a group of elephants—animals whose immense size contrasts sharply with the limits of their enclosures.
Without narration or dialogue, the camera lingers on routines and small interactions:
slow movements, repetitive paths, idle games. These moments reveal not spectacle, but existence—life shaped by boundaries designed for human entertainment and financial sustainability.
Interwoven with the present-day images of captivity are brief video fragments of the animals’ native habitats, sourced from promotional and advertising materials. Lush forests, open waters, and vast landscapes appear as distant echoes—idealized visions of freedom that stand in quiet opposition to the controlled environments of the zoo.
This film does not accuse, nor does it offer answers. Instead, it invites contemplation.
It reflects on the ethical tension between care and confinement, protection and possession, well-being and autonomy. The animals are well-fed, medically supervised, and safe—but at what unseen cost?
“Captive Giants” is a meditation on the paradox of modern existence, on the human desire to preserve life while simultaneously restricting it. It asks the viewer to slow down, to observe, and to consider whether comfort can ever replace freedom—something profoundly cherished by every living creature.
This silent cinematic observation explores how zoo animals play in captivity — from elephants and giant tortoises to arapaima fish. These small, repetitive games are not performances, but behaviors shaped by limited space and human-designed environments.
By observing animal play without narration, the film asks quiet questions about animal welfare, captivity and freedom. Are these games entertainment, adaptation, or a way of coping with confinement?
