The South African conservation story heading to the Oscars

With the 97th Academy Awards taking place this Sunday 2nd of March, we delve into The Last Ranger, the empowering South African rhino poaching narrative nominated for Best Live Action Short Film. The film is directed by Cindy Lee, a past nominee for a South African Film and Television Award (SAFTA), and awarded at the New York Picture Start Film Festival (2014) for her short screenplay, Horn, which also touches on the atrocities of illegal rhino hunting. 

The Last Ranger honours the impact of those who risk their lives to protect endangered species from poaching while recognising the complex socio-economic factors that feed into this illegal trade. The short informs audiences that in the last ten years ‘over 10, 000 rhinos and 1,000 rangers have been killed at the hands of poachers’ which amounts to one rhino killed a day for its horn. 

The film follows Litha, embodied by then 11-year old Liyabona Mroqoza, as she sets off with ranger, Khuselwa, played by Avumile Qongqo, to see the rhinos Khuselwa protects. The ranger reminds Litha to celebrate her wildness, repeatedly telling her, ‘You are wild’. 

Filming took place during COVID-19 in Amakhala Game Reserve, in the Eastern Cape. This 28 minute drama acknowledges the disruption the Pandemic caused to conservation efforts and makes up an episode of Six Feet Film’s international anthology series When the World Stopped. A predominantly isiXhosa production, it exposes the complicated local human and wildlife challenges with global pressures unfolding, blending universal emotions of loss, grief and resilience. 

The story for The Last Ranger comes from Cindy Lee’s brother, David S. Lee, who also plays the supporting fellow rhino protector, Robert, and is known for his previous role as the villainous Limbani in Black Panther. American filmmaker, Will Hawkes and British writer-producer Darwin Shaw make up the other two writers of this international collaboration. 

The music, a blend of award-winning composer John Powell and Khayeltisha’s Thanda Choir’s talents, mixed with stunning natural cinematography finely builds the tension and distress in this compelling female-led drama.

Bringing the short film to life came with its unique challenges. In an online interview with South African Oscar winning director Gavin Hood (Tsotsi), Cindy Lee shared, ‘I’d never directed a rhino before, so that was the one thing I was worried about’. For actress Liyabona Mroqoza, ‘the challenging part was (…) the tears’. She joked in a Newzroom Africa interview, ‘I had to cry Oscar winning tears’. And it showed. Liyabona’s debut performance is heart wrenching, the pain in her face so real it will leave audiences sobbing.

Trevor Noah has lauded The Last Ranger as being ‘a movie about how differently humans are all experiencing the same thing’. The South African comedian went on to say during an interview with producer Anele Mdoda (Zintathu), how the ‘humanising of a poacher’ is not something one expects or is necessarily ready for. 

The Last Ranger has amassed various festival awards including Best Short Narrative at the Pan African Film Festival (PAFF), Best Young Actress for Liyabona Mroqoza at the Black Star International Film Festival (BSIFF) and Green Fire Award at the American Conservation Film Festival (ACFF). 

Their Oscar nomination marks an elevation and recognition of African and environmental storytelling on the world stage. The Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, encouraged South Africans in a media statement to ‘rally behind this incredible production and showcase our support for local brilliance’. 

To find out more visit: https://www.kindredfilms.org/the-last-ranger

Watch THE LAST RANGER trailer: