After navigating the complexities of shooting on location with wild animals in South Africa during Covid (“We had insurance but I'm not sure if that covered being eaten by a lion”, jokes Shaw), the crew began assembling their film, which revolves around the two central performances.
Speaking to The Independent, Shaw says they came up with the story after hearing about a vet who was left “broken” upon encountering a rhino in South Africa that had been killed by poachers.
Shaw explained that, after spending a day and a half on set with a real ranger, “something changed in her” and she understood that these people “would literally die to protect these creatures”.
Shaw fights back tears when recalling a screening of the film where Qongqo’s family saw her act for the first time, with her brother observing: “So this is what a movie theatre is.”.
In Mroqoza’s humble opinion, she “cried Oscar-worthy tears” while acting in the film, says Shaw.
