Mia and the White Lion

Name: Mia and the White Lion
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Family
Released: April 12, 2019
Duration: 98 min
Rating: 52
Cast: Ashleigh Harvey, Benjamin Garrad, Brandon Auret, Daniah De Villiers, Elvis

2019

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 6 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 12 Ratings

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6.2

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6.2	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 12 Ratings

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Mia And The White Lion (US Trailer 1)

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Movie Details & Credits

A Contracorriente Films | Release Date: April 12, 2019 | PG

Starring: Ashleigh Harvey, Benjamin Garrad, Brandon Auret, Daniah De Villiers, Elvis, Langley Kirkwood, Lillian Dube, Lionel Newton, Mélanie Laurent, Paul Davies, Ryan Mac Lennan, Tessa Jubber, Thor

Summary: 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 unbearableMia 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.… Expand

Director: Gilles de Maistre

Genre(s): Adventure, Drama, Family

Rating: PG

Runtime: 98 min

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Critic Reviews

Kim Hughes

Apr 10, 2019

The film brings great heart while underscoring ties between family, friends and, crucially, between humans and the wider environmental world in a way likely to resonate with tweens and teens in North America as it has already successfully done internationally. Read full review

Alex Saveliev

Apr 11, 2019

Good-looking but predictable and schlocky, Mia and the White Lion is ultimately saved from slaughter by its two plucky heroes. Read full review

Gary Goldstein

Apr 11, 2019

There are several uniquely impressive elements to the adventure drama Mia and the White Lion, but they’re undermined by a choppy, at times contrived and implausible script by Prune de Maistre (wife of director Gilles de Maistre) and William Davies. Read full review

Courtney Howard

Apr 12, 2019

Despite a heartfelt sentiment that one person has the power to uproot societal structure and inspire change, and the filmmakers’ desire to raise awareness about an abhorrent practice, packaging it in a family-friendly narrative proves to be wildly problematic. Read full review

Movie Nation Roger Moore

Apr 16, 2019

The human acting is, for the most part, indifferent, with even the polished Laurent (“Inglorious Basterds,””Beginners,” “Night Train to Lisbon”) underwhelming owing to the lack of big emotional moments in the script. Read full review

John DeFore

Apr 11, 2019

Given its focus, viewers might forgive Mia for its clumsy direction of actors, its contrived plot or its on-the-nose dialogue. But training impressionable kids to identify with a girl who sneaks into lions' cages is a cinematic flaw that could have heartbreaking real-world consequences. Read full review

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User Reviews

lennilg

Oct 12, 2020

Sure, the acting could have been better.. that being said, it's a emotional and moving story with an exciting and heartwarming plot, beautiful scenery and the amazing bond between a girl and her wild lion. It was very intriguing watching how both the kids and the lion grew up together.Sure, the acting could have been better.. that being said, it's a emotional and moving story with an exciting and heartwarming plot, beautiful scenery and the amazing bond between a girl and her wild lion. It was very intriguing watching how both the kids and the lion grew up together. Highly recommended.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

DogeGamer2015

Sep 21, 2020

Es una historia muy bonita, que además transmite un buen mensaje sobre el respeto a los animales.

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ArtemisGrey

Apr 15, 2019

This movie is not beautiful, nor does it aid conservation, or teach viewers anything about respecting lions or other wild animals. The lions you see here were bought from a captive lion breeding farm solely for the purpose of making this movie. Casting calls were held at Ukutula Lion Farm,This movie is not beautiful, nor does it aid conservation, or teach viewers anything about respecting lions or other wild animals. The lions you see here were bought from a captive lion breeding farm solely for the purpose of making this movie. Casting calls were held at Ukutula Lion Farm, which breeds hundreds of lion cubs each year, removes them from their mothers (just like Mia's father removes Charlie from his and give him to Mia) and then allows tourists to play with them. Older lions are used for lion walking, and then sold to other breeding farms or into the canned hunting industry. Gilles de Maistre and Kevin Richardson knew this, and still used Ukutula for casting, and them purchased five lion cubs from them, directly participating in the industry their movie vilifies. In addition, the much admired relationship of the actress and lion is hugely problematic in real life as evidenced by the fact that one of Richardson's other lions (not used in the film) escaped his control and fatally mauled a woman at his sanctuary while this movie was being filmed there. That woman's death has been largely covered up, and not addressed, while the interaction between young woman and captive lion in Mia And The White Lion has been glorified and promoted.

Buying lions from the captive breeding lion industry only supports that industry. Showcasing the interactions between captive lions and humans, only makes other humans want to interact with lions. de Maistre is already filming ANOTHER movie that involves captive wolves trained to perform with people. We're supposed to be evolving above forcing animals to perform, but while circuses are maligned (rightfully) for using animals in performances, and have now been banned from doing so in many places, people like Richardson, who are buying and using lions for performances, are being applauded for doing so, and even worse, their use of the animals is being marketed and *good* for the species. Please, rethink supporting this movie.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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