An unwritten rule of kids’ movies is that they should include a worthy message to ram down little throats – like broccoli dipped into cod liver oil. (Any message will do: kindness, friendship and the importance of believing in yourself are popular choices.) What’s different about this fun, warm-hearted family adventure set in Eswatini (formerly known as Swaziland) is that its messages touch on genuine, real-world issues. It’s adapted from a children’s novel by German author Kirsten Boie but is mostly English language with some lovely, natural performances by the young cast.
A detective story, it follows kids on the trail of rhino poachers. Thabo (Litlhohonolofatso Litlhakayane) is a sparky 11-year-old living on a safari park with his uncle, a ranger. When a rhino is killed, the police match a footprint at the crime scene to his uncle, who is arrested. So, Thabo turns private detective to find the real culprit, assisted by his friend Sifiso (Kumkani Pilonti), an orphan who has his hands full caring for his little brother and sister. Both boys have lost a parent to Aids, but they are the heroes of this story, not victims. A girl on holiday from Germany joins them to investigate.
There’s lots here for curious kids to pick up on: the poaching, the differences between kids’ lives depending on where they live in the world. Or they can enjoy the film as a good, fun adventure. Adults be warned, there is a decent amount of PG jeopardy: a scene with bad guys pointing guns at each other made me think twice about watching with my seven-year-old. Sensitive kids may be upset by the Bambi-ish moment when the rhino is found dead next to her baby, with its horn cut off. Not gory exactly, but Disney it ain’t.
