It might seem that a documentary that explores the complex issues around land use in Scotland, particularly the sparely populated but gorgeous and iconic remote highlands, would have a very limited audience. In “The Last Keeper,” director Thomas Opre, a filmmaker and conservationist whose “Killing the Shepard” (2021) detailed the fight by a small community, led by a woman chief, in Zambia to halt wildlife poaching, presents the thorny subject through myriad views.
We hear from conservationists and ecologists who want to re-wild the areas to combat deforestation and degradation and from those who advocate for the controlled culling of deer populations to maintain a balanced ecosystem. There are the owners of sprawling, postcard-perfect highland estates who offer hunting of red deer and grouse and who cite this tradition’s positive impact on both environment and local economy. Inn owners, shopkeepers and restaurants depend on the hunting parties to sustain their businesses. There are also historians, from the academic to the more colorful, who offer their unique perspective.
But the focus is largely on gamekeepers, retired and active, whose crucial roles at estates continue a long Scottish tradition. One is Alex Jenkins who talks about his dedication to preserving wildlife populations, respecting tradition, and managing the land so that animal populations and traditions can be sustained. Jenkins also discusses his decision to retire, based partly on frustrations with ongoing divisiveness over how to best manage the lands.
In his effort to present all sides of these contentious issues, the film will likely be confusing for viewers with little stake in the matter. One expert makes sense followed by another with a different viewpoint that also makes sense. In the end, how to best preserve an environment and a tradition in a remote part of the world is an issue with no real answer. But Opre’s sweeping shots of the highlands, with deer gathered on hills and in glens and wild birds soaring overhead, visually conveys the majesty of the region and why there are disparate, often at-odds, efforts to preserve and enjoy it.
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