Quartile rating: 7.5/10 · 1 rating
A young girl from London moves to Africa with her parents where she befriends a lion cub.
Mia and the White Lion is elevated above its modest family-adventure premise primarily by its stunning South African cinematography and the remarkable real bond between actress Daniah De Villiers and the actual lions filmed over three years. The plot is fairly conventional — fish-out-of-water child bonds with animal, conflict arises, emotional climax — and offers little structural surprise. Acting is solid for a family film, with De Villiers genuinely impressive given the extraordinary physical demands. Novelty is modest: the animal-bond story is well-trodden, but the three-year real production with actual lions gives it a distinctive authenticity few films attempt. The ending is emotionally satisfying if predictable. The cinematography is the clear standout, capturing the African landscape and the lions with exceptional beauty and intimacy.