An inspirational leader takes her loved ones on a dangerous journey into the unknown in “The Elephant Queen.” “There is an animal in Africa that truly reflects our sense of family,” says narrator Chiwetel Ejiofor (“The Lion King”) in a new spot for the AppleTV+ documentary. He’s referring to elephants, whose “entire world is built on the love and strength of their family.”

Directed by Victoria Stone and Mark Deeble, “The Elephant Queen” sees Athena, a powerful matriarch, forced to guide her family across the harsh African savanna, traveling through grasslands and woodlands in search of more water.

“I have always been fascinated by elephants,” Stone told us. “They have the same emotions as us. If you are around them for long enough you get to thinking that you understand their thoughts, but then they do things that can utterly surprise you.” She explained, “Their society is based on female friendship, and the most revered in their communities are the elders. The elders are the wisest, the most experienced, and have the most authority. The way elephants raise their calves, deal with sloppy teenagers, and mourn their dead is all so familiar to us. I wanted to tell the story of an extraordinary matriarch we got to know by trying to get under thick, wrinkled skin and behind her golden eyes.”

Stone and Deeble’s previous film, “The Queen of Trees,” won a Peabody and a United Nations Award.

“The Elephant Queen” made its world premiere at Sundance this January. You can catch it in select theaters October 18 or streaming on AppleTV+ beginning November 1.