An extraordinary new resident arrived in the town of East River, Nova Scotia, in 1967: Balakrishna, an Indian elephant. In Hindu and Buddhist culture, the elephant is a symbol of prosperity, so an Indian businessman brought Balakrishna to attend the opening of his new factory. No one was more in awe of the creature than young Winton Cook, and a wonderful affection grew between the boy and his mammoth new friend. Using painterly animation, photographs and home-movie treasures, Balakrishna transmits the wistfulness of childhood memories, while evoking themes of friendship and loss, and issues of immigration and elephant conservation.