This 1988 biographical drama film was directed by Michael Apted from a screenplay by Anna Hamilton Phelan, based on Dian Fossey's book of the same name. The main roles feature Sigourney Weaver as naturalist Dian Fossey and Bryan Brown as photographer Bob Campbell. The film tells the story of Fossey, who came to Africa to study endangered mountain gorillas and dedicated herself to their protection. For maximum authenticity, a significant part of the film was shot on location in Rwanda, in the Volcanoes region and the Virunga protected area — exactly where Dian Fossey herself lived and worked. The film crew spent a lot of time in the mountain jungles, filming scenes with gorillas and Fossey's research center. Additional filming took place in the Aberdare Mountains in Kenya, chosen for their similarity to Rwandan landscapes. The film received five Academy Award nominations, including Best Actress for Sigourney Weaver and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Filming Locations:

University

In the Movie

The scene where Dian Fossey is inspired by the work of renowned anthropologist Louis Leakey and decides to attend his lectures in Louisville. The heroine convinces him of her determination and readiness for fieldwork to study rare mountain gorillas in Africa.

In Reality

The scene was filmed at the Ontario Science Centre, located in the North York district of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. This science center, opened in 1969, is one of the world's first interactive educational venues dedicated to science and technology.

Congo Jungle

In the Movie

The scene where Dian Fossey travels to the Congo. Dr. Louis Leakey and his foundation provide her with the necessary support to begin field research. There she also meets a local guide and tracker named Sembagare. Settling in a remote part of the jungle, Fossey and Sembagare begin observing wildlife and soon find the first group of mountain gorillas.

In Reality

The scene was filmed in the Virunga Conservation Area in Rwanda. This region is located in the northwest of the country, along the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. Geographically, it covers part of the Virunga mountain range, consisting of eight extinct and active volcanoes covered with dense tropical forests and bamboo thickets. Altitudes in the park range from 2,400 to over 4,500 meters above sea level. Virunga National Park is one of the last refuges for endangered mountain gorillas. In addition to them, the park's ecosystem is home to golden monkeys, forest buffaloes, hyena dogs, various species of chameleons, and more than 180 bird species. Due to dense fogs, steep slopes, and thick vegetation, access to the gorillas is only possible on foot and accompanied by experienced guides and trackers.

Karisoke Base

In the Movie

The scene where Fossey begins new research work in the jungle. There she immediately faces the massive problem of poaching and corruption. In the first days, she finds many traps near her new base — the Karisoke Research Center. Despite these difficulties, Fossey and her team gradually achieve significant success in observing mountain gorillas. They record the specifics of their communication, behavior, and social group structure, which becomes an important contribution to science and the protection of the endangered species.

In Reality

The scene was filmed in the Virunga Conservation Area in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This region is part of a transboundary park that also includes Rwandan territory, but for this scene, the Congolese side was chosen. The filming took place among dense tropical forests, where mountain gorillas and other rare species are in their natural environment.