Mother Nature is a much better writer than nearly anyone working in Hollywood these days.

For example, it would be hard for any screenwriter to come up with as realistic and compelling a tale about the difficulties of growing up as "The Leopard Son," a documentary about a leopard cub by noted naturalist and wildlife cinematographer Hugo van La-wick.

It's more fascinating than any feature film because its basic tale is true. Van Lawick closely followed a mother leopard and her cub for more than two years in Africa's Serengeti plain, observing as the young leopard first learns valuable survival lessons from his mother and then discovers life's harsh realities when he strikes out on his own.

Consequently, it's a film for nature lovers and families to enjoy, especially with messages about youth, family, loss, love and perseverance sprinkled throughout. However, there are some scenes of animals fighting or being killed that could be too intense, especially for younger audiences expecting "The Lion King."

Sir John Gielgud narrates the film, the first widescreen release from the Discovery Channel, using van Lawick's fascinating written account of his leopard study. At times he compares the cub's life with that of the naturalist's own son, whom he raised in the wild with his former wife, primate researcher Jane Goodall.

As the film begins, the cub is either at his mother's side or stashed safely in a tree. The mother leopard, who is shown to be supportive, patient and loving, attempts to demonstrate hunting skills, but the impatient young leopard is more content to explore his surroundings and play.

However, he soon grows into a precocious 1-year-old as big or even bigger than his mother, which makes it imperative for him to become a hunter. The mother leopard kills a gazelle for one, last meal and then leaves the young leopard to his own devices.

From there, it's a hunt-or-starve prospect for the young leopard. Though his first few attempts are fumbled, he eventually learns the ropes and wanders far from his home, where he comes into contact with a variety of wildlife - including eagles, lions, baboons, giraffes and hyenas - which provides him with amusement but also puts him in tremendous danger.

Van Lawick has been studying and photographing animals for more than 30 years but really lucked out when he decided to concentrated on this particular mother-and-child combo. Leopards rarely return home after they leave, but the cub does after two years, which leads to a tragic, but ultimately life-affirming, finale.

All of the action is shot, stunningly, in 35 millimeter, which allows van Lawick and fellow cinematographer Matthew Aeberhard to get impossibly close to the animals in their natural habitats. For instance, there have been few movie scenes as thrilling as the mother leopard's hunts or the young leopard's confrontation with a pack of baboons.

Also, it should be noted that former Police drummer Stewart Copeland's soundtrack is appropriately playful, intense and subdued, all at the right times.

"The Leopard Son" is rated G, although, as mentioned, there are some scenes of animals fighting or hunting.