André Bauma in Virunga (Orlando von Einsiedel)

In 2013, Netflix released the Oscar-nominated documentary The Square, chronicling the ongoing dangers following the Egyptian revolution. With Virunga, the digital content giant continues its trend of releasing compelling, timely documentaries about some of the most volatile situations in the world today.

Virunga is filled with dazzling images of the natural beauty of the titular national park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, spanning 3,000 square miles and founded 90 years ago. Despite the copious dangers depicted here, those with a sense of adventure and a bit of money to burn may still be tempted to look into booking flights after seeing it. Hippos, elephants, lions, monkeys, and eagles traverse the plains, jungles, and skies with serenity and majesty.

Perhaps the most interesting animals in the park are also the closest to extinction—the noble mountain gorilla. There are only about 800 remaining in the wild anywhere on the planet, many of them in the Congo. A sizable portion of the film brings us in close quarters with these enormous, but gentle creatures and the loving bond between them and the park rangers and wardens.

Virunga captures the painful contradictions running throughout Earth’s largest, most beautiful continent. In recent years, the vicious civil war of the 1990s, which ended dictator Mobute Sese Seko’s three-decade rule, has heated up again due in large part to the activities of the Congolese Revolutionary Army, also known as the M23. Their reign of terror has impacted tens of thousands of Congolese, causing refugee displacement camps and widespread misery throughout the region. Despite, or perhaps because of, its unparalleled natural beauty and resources, the country has been home to almost constant strife since the days of the Belgian King Leopold’s atrocities in pursuit of obtaining rubber in the late 19th century.

In addition to exotic animals and other natural wonders, Virunga Park also sits atop massive oil reserves, and the film examines the actions of a European oil company, SOCO International, which has vigorously maintained its innocence against any illegal activity. Meanwhile M23 rebels have been clearing out previous inhabitants near the park. As if this wasn’t enough, the film also includes ghastly images of poached elephant carcasses, the detritus left behind by the international ivory trade. Threats creep in from all sides onto this serene oasis. As the rebels close in on the gorilla sanctuary and their small band of human protectors, Virunga pulses with all the suspense and foreboding of a political thriller, but it’s infinitely more affecting because it’s real.

There are many scenes where head gorilla ranger André Bauma plays with the gorillas and shares his insights into their distinct, charming personalities. His scenes are among the standouts and most informative. We also spend a lot of time with French investigative journalist Mélanie Gouby, who has worked tirelessly to expose the allegations of the plot to muscle out the gorillas and drill for oil. Her dedication to the cause of defending the primates and preserving their wider sanctity are evident and inspiring. Because of the ongoing, real nature of the conflict, we don’t get much more than fleeting glimpses of the rebels, and it can be challenging to keep track of what’s going on and why, but the feeling of dread is clear enough.

Virunga offers one of the most vivid filmic illustrations of the costs of unfettered global capitalism, as well as the urgent need to develop alternative, eco-friendly energy sources. The extinction of wild mountain gorillas may be just a stop along capitalism’s way as it continues exploiting the planet.