When Susan Lambert and Stefan Moore premiered their documentary Tyke Elephant Outlaw in Sarasota, Florida - the heart of US circus country - rival protest groups clashed, police were called in and bodyguards had to escort the filmmakers from the building.
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They're not expecting such a frenzied response when the film screens in Sydney on Thursday, but hope the tragic tale of Tyke the circus elephant will illicit a strong emotional reaction nevertheless.
Dubbed "Blackfish for elephants", the film is not dissimilar to the 2013 documentary about Tilikum, the orca who infamously killed his SeaWorld trainer, sparking a global debate about the use of wild animals for entertainment.
"Society is at a tipping point in terms of our relationship with animals," said Moore, who directed and produced the film alongside Lambert after the pair became interested in a group of US lawyers fighting for "personhood" rights for great apes and other species, such as elephants, whales and dolphins that have complex cognitive abilities.
"These court cases and animal documentaries are all part of that groundswell," he said.
Tyke, an African elephant who had spent her life performing in US circuses for the Hawthorn Corporation, grabbed headlines around the world in 1994 when she made a desperate dash for freedom during a performance in Honolulu, killing her trainer Allen Campbell and subsequently being gunned down in front of horrified witnesses.
"It absolutely left a dark cloud over Honolulu, people there are still traumatised by it. And really, it sparked a worldwide battle about wild animals in captivity, specifically for entertainment purposes," Lambert said.
In the 21 years since then, more than 20 countries and 300 cities and regions have banned the use of wild performing animals. The filmmakers believe there is still a way to go, but say their film was not intended to be a pro-animal rights film.
"We're not trying to push a certain agenda, we're more focused on exploring that grey area that exists between our love for animals and our willingness to see them chained up," Moore said.
In other words, wild animals are kept in captivity, because of society's fascination with them.
As one of Tyke's "harsher" trainers Johnny Walker says in the film: "Animals [are the] circus ... People love them, I see the public watching my show, you watch them when the animals come out, they love the animals. But these animal activists are not going to stop, and when they're done with us I'm sure they're gonna start on pets."
Tyke Elephant Outlaw is likely to continue dividing opinion, but on either side of the fence viewers are forced to question their connection to animals. In Moore and Lambert's opinions, that can only be a good thing.
"Humans share a deep connection to other species, we have it with our cats and dogs. That's why seeing animals suffering affects us," Lambert said.
"Watching this film, you can't help but reflect on that connection - and ultimately, question whether our entertainment is worth those animals' suffering."
Tyke Elephant Outlaw is screening at Event Cinemas on George Street at 6.30pm on Thursday.
