How a Czech Filmmaker Became Fascinated by Moose

Czech documentarian and ethnozoologist Hana Novakova developed a profound fascination, or “obsession” in her own words, with the majestic moose following a remarkable ecological event in her home country. This deep connection led her on an extensive journey of discovery, culminating in her film “Amoosed,” which explores the mysterious lives of these magnificent creatures and their unexpected return to the Czech landscape.

The Unbelievable Return of the Moose to the Czech Republic

Hana Novakova’s enduring interest in moose began in 2003 with the “unbelievable spontaneous return” of the moose population to the Czech Republic. This event was particularly significant as moose had been extinct in the region for approximately 500 years. The reappearance of these animals sparked Novakova’s curiosity, setting her on a path that would shape a significant portion of her professional and personal life.

A Filmmaker’s Dedicated Journey: Crafting “Amoosed”

Novakova’s initial fascination with the moose only intensified during her studies at Prague’s prestigious FAMU film school. Her unwavering dedication eventually translated into the creation of her documentary, “Amoosed,” which recently had its world premiere in the Ji.hlava doc fest’s Czech Joy section. The film serves as a testament to her persistent pursuit of understanding the moose and their place in the world.

Navigating Challenges: Funding, Lockdowns, and Geopolitical Shifts

The journey to complete “Amoosed” was fraught with challenges. Novakova encountered difficulties securing funding, as her pitch for a film about moose initially struggled to gain traction. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic brought lockdowns that prevented her from filming abroad. Subsequent geopolitical events, including the diplomatic crisis between the Czech Republic and Russia in 2021 and the conflict that began a year later, made further filming in Russia impossible, forcing her to adapt her plans significantly.

Seeking the Moose: From Russian Preserves to Nova Scotia

Despite the obstacles, Novakova’s determination led her to diverse locations in pursuit of her subjects. Early in her research, she tracked down a Russian nature preserve in the Kostroma region, which had once served as an anti-rocket defense installation, where moose were raised and allowed to roam freely. It was here, in 2016, that she had her first encounter with moose in the wild and gathered crucial scouting material for her film. The preserve had also pioneered a method for extracting milk from moose by exposing them to humans from birth. Due to later restrictions, this initial scouting footage became more central to “Amoosed” than originally intended.

Her quest later took her to Nova Scotia, Canada, where indigenous people of the Mi’kmaq nation provided invaluable guidance to local moose homelands. This leg of her journey proved to be particularly transformative. Before being welcomed into the wild terrain to film, Novakova underwent a ritual cleansing with herbal smoke. She was told of “special animal omens” witnessed for her project, suggesting an acceptance from the moose community for “Amoosed”.

Unveiling the Enigmatic Nature of Moose

Novakova’s scientific background as an ethnozoologist provided a foundational structure for her investigative quest. She notes that fully grasping the “mystery of the moose” requires more than just a zoology diploma, suggesting a need for broader perspectives. Through her extensive research and direct experiences, Novakova gained fascinating insights into these complex creatures. She discovered that many questions about their lives in the wild remain unanswered, adding to their enigmatic appeal.

Among her discoveries were two particularly intriguing facts:

• Individual moose exhibit distinct personalities, influencing behaviors such as migration. Some moose will migrate, while others from the same area will not, a difference potentially attributable to their individual temperaments.
• The diverse diet of moose, encompassing a wide variety of plants, makes maintaining their health in captivity exceptionally challenging, even with nutritious provisions. This raises ethical questions for Novakova about the practice of keeping them in captivity.

A Message of Connection and Guidance

Ultimately, Hana Novakova’s film and her decade-long dedication to understanding the moose convey a “purely positive” message. She believes that animals can serve as profound teachers, capable of guiding humanity out of a perceived crisis of disconnection from nature and from ourselves, if only we are willing to listen and follow their lead. Her journey with the moose is an eloquent plea for greater empathy and reconnection with the natural world.