MIA AND THE WHITE LION is the captivating story of a headstrong young girl and her unconventional friendship with a rare white lion. Set in South Africa, this family adventure is released on DVD and for Digital Download on 18th November 2019.
Starring Daniah De Villiers, Mélanie Laurent and Langley Kirkwood, MIA AND THE WHITE LION is directed by Gilles de Maistre and based on an original story by Prune de Maistre, which was inspired by a real-life visit to a lion-breeding farm in South Africa.
Ten-year-old Mia (Daniah De Villiers) has her life turned upside down when her family is suddenly uprooted, from their home in London to South Africa, to manage a lion farm that provides animals to parks, zoos, and research facilities. Mia struggles with this sudden change and ferociously lashes out at her classmates and caring parents – Alice (Mélanie Laurent) and John (Langley Kirkwood).
To help Mia and her brother (Ryan Mac Lennon) get used to their new way of living, John and Alice give them a rare white lion cub named Charlie (played by animal actor Thor) to look after. Though Mia is initially reticent she soon surrenders to Charlie’s adorable advances and the pair become the best of friends.
As the years pass, Charlie’s future becomes uncertain as he triples in size and his primal instincts begin taking over. To protect his family, John orders Charlie to be sent away. However, Mia then learns an upsetting secret about the real purpose of the family business and decides to run away. The two set off on an epic adventure across the wild African savanna in search for another land where Charlie can live out his life safe and free.
The filming of MIA AND THE WHITE LION took place over a period of three years, overseen by South African zookeeper Kevin Richardson. The film’s young stars developed an authentic bond with the lions and other animals which is evident on screen without the use of CGI. With scenes of gorgeous sweeping vistas with indigenous animals such as hippos, giraffes, and zebras roaming free, MIA AND THE WHITE LION is an extraordinary adventure story with an important message about the protection and conservation of wild animals in their natural habitats.
