Mia and the White Lion (2018)

A young girl from London moves to Africa with her parents where she befriends a lion cub.

Director:

Gilles de Maistre

Writers:

Prune de Maistre (screenplay), William Davies (screenplay)

Stars:

Daniah De Villiers, Mélanie Laurent, Langley Kirkwood

Cast

Credited cast:
Daniah De Villiers	...	Mia Owen
Mélanie Laurent	...	Alice Owen
Langley Kirkwood	...	John Owen
Ryan Mac Lennan	...	Mick Owen
Lionel Newton	...	Kevin
Lillian Dube	...	Jodie
Brandon Auret	...	Dirk
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Paul Davies	...	Helicopter Sniper
Ashleigh Harvey	...	School Teacher
Tessa Jubber	...	Enclosure Hunter
Noko 'Flow' Mabitsela	...	Tourist

Storyline

Mia is 11 years old when she develops an extraordinary relationship with Charlie, a young white lion born in Mia's parents farm, in South Africa. During three years, they will grow up together and live a beautiful friendship. When Mia reaches the age of 14 and that Charlie has become a magnificent adult lion, she discovers the unbearable truth: her father has decided to sell the lion to trophy hunters. Desperate, Mia has no other choice than to escape with Charlie in order to rescue him.

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Plot Keywords:

animal in title | singing in a car | pet lion | white lion | girl lion relationship | 

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Taglines:

Friendship is the Wildest Adventure of All

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Family

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for thematic elements, peril and some language

Details

Country:

France Germany South Africa

Language:

English French

Release Date:

12 April 2019 (USA)

Also Known As:

Mia and the White Lion

Filming Locations:

South Africa

Company Credits

Production Co:

Galatée Films, Outside Films, Film Afrika Worldwide

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

D-Cinema 48kHz 5.1

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Upon getting the idea for the film, co-writer/director Gilles de Maistre asked specialist Kevin Richardson about the possibility of filming a child with a lion. He was told that it would be impossible, as the only way for the lion not to harm the child would be that they grow up together, a three year process for a lion and much too long for a film shoot. Undeterred, de Maistre found Daniah De Villiers a young, South African girl already familiar with lions to grow up with the titular white lion cub, and shot the film over two and half years, from May 2015 to December 2017, with the other actors regularly flying in to shoot their scenes.

User Reviews

Cute I guess, but too kitschy.

Saw this with my mom 'cause she really wanted to see it and it was her birthday. And she likes it quite a bit, and I at least don't regret having seen it.

But it is incredibly kitschy, manipulative and nothing new. The message though, it mostly gets across, and I agree with it of course. I don't at all hate the flick, but it's too much of a standard family movie.

Gotta add as well that it was fun and incredible to see that lion grow up, I won't lie, that got me a little emotional here and there. Beautiful animal. And btw. if any kid got inspired by this film, it did something right in the end.