Wild Life

Official Trailer | National Geographic

About the Movie

“Wild Life” is the name of the inspiring documentary that chronicles the lives of Kristine y Douglas Tompkins and their conservation work in Chile and Argentina. In 93 minutes, the feature-length film by National Geographic Documentary Films tells the story of the philanthropists from their origins linked to companies such as Patagonia, Esprit, and North Face and the radical change in their lives when they decided to dedicate themselves to conservation. The film traces the most significant moments of their careers, as the land purchases in southern Chile, the death of Douglas Tompkins in 2015, and the completion of the largest donation from a private person to a State allowed the creation of seven new national parks for Chile and the expansion of three others.

The documentary has several testimonies that highlight throughout the film the urgency of preserving the last pristine places, inspiring others to take action to ensure the future of the Planet.

BTS of Jimmy Chin discussing with the Camera and Sound Operators with mountainous landscape in the background. (Graham Deneen/National Geographic Documentary Films)

Kris Tompkins looks over skyline view of the Patagonian mountain range. (Jimmy Chin)

Kris looks a map of the parks with Yvon Chouinard. (Jimmy Chin)

Rick Ridgeway gazes at the sunset in Patagonia National Park, Chile. (Jimmy Chin)

Doug Tompkins and Yvon Chouinard in sitting up in sleeping bags reading. (Lito Tejada-Flores/Patagonia)

Kris Tompkins, gives a self-reflective and determined gaze as a Chilean sunset illuminates her face. (Jimmy Chin)

BTS of Clair Popkin and Chai Vasarhelyi. (National Geographic Documentary Films)

Kris Tompkins holds up a heartshaped rock during her hike up the mountain range in Patagonia, Chile. (Jimmy Chin)

Kris Tompkins continues on her hike with a skyline view of a Patagonian mountain range as her backdrop. (Jimmy Chin)

Kris Tompkins works at a table. (Clair Popkin/National Geographic Documentary Films)

Kris Tompkins, left, and Chai Vasarhelyi. (Clair Popkin/National Geographic Documentary Films)

Jimmy Chin holding up his Canon DSLR. (Clair Popkin/National Geographic Documentary Films)

Chai Vasarhelyi looking out a small and bright window. (Clair Popkin/National Geographic Documentary Films)

Kris Tompkins hikes up the mountain range in Patagonia, Chile. (Jimmy Chin)

Kris Tompkins on a walk with President Michelle Bachelet. (Jimmy Chin)

Kris Tompkins on a walk with President Michelle Bachelet. (Jimmy Chin)

President Michelle Bachelet and Kris Tompkins sign the Historic National Park Pledge. (Jimmy Chin)

Kris Tompkins looks up at the sky with the Patagonian mountain range as her backdrop.(Jimmy Chin)

Jimmy standing on a slant with a snowy mountainside in the background. (Graham Deneen/National Geographic Documentary Films)

“Jimmy and Chai have honored Doug’s and my life’s work in a profound, moving way. I am grateful. I can only wish that WILD LIFE offers a semblance of hope and reminds anyone who sees it that whoever you are and wherever you live, you can make a difference in this world. Our work at Tompkins Conservation — restoring the planet by creating parks on land and sea and rewilding — is constant and ongoing.”

Kristine Tompkins, President of Tompkins Conservation and Co-Founder of Rewilding Chile.

Team

Oscar winners Oscar Chai Vasarhelyi y Jimmy Chin of Little Monster Films are directing this production, which began shooting in 2017. Today is being presented in Chile and the United States, and on May 26, it will be available through +Disney.

"The film not only highlights the efforts of Kris and Doug Tompkins to conserve Patagonia, but it is also an inspiration to understand that we can all do something, from our sidewalk, to address the climate and species extinction crises."

Carolina Morgado, Executive Director of Rewilding Chile.

THE LEGACY CONTINUES

Know more about Rewilding Chile, the legacy of Tompkins Conservation, which promotes rewilding or ecological restoration to address the extinction and climate crisis along the Route of Parks of Patagonia.