Light in the Jungle Reviews

Intriguing but unsatisfactory sketch of saintly Albert Schweitzer. Except for a few brief flashbacks, the story eschews the epic sweep of typical biopics and concentrates on several days in the life of Dr. Schweitzer (Malcolm McDowell) at his volunteer-staffed hospital at Lambarene, Gabon, on Africa's west coast. A loose storyline finds Schweitzer at odds with two cultures: influential witch doctor Onganga (Henry Cele) declares that twins born to a native woman in the compound are a bad omen, and he demands ritual sacrifice of at least one of the infants. Meanwhile two arrogant Americans, a bombastic publisher and a stuffy socialite, arrive in Lambarene with a scheme to turn the humble settlement into a gleaming highrise clinic to draw planeloads of donations. Dr. Schweitzer opposes both threats with equal fervor. The antagonism with Onganga is like something out of an old "Daktari" episode. The parallel plot with the meddling high-society stiffs calls up some interesting questions about Schweitzer's administrative practices and attitudes, but few are answered.