Seeing the South African vistas in Thabo and the Rhino Case, written by director Mara Eibl-Eibesfeldt, Ursula Gruber, and Martin Gypkens, brought back memories. I am lucky to have been to the land where this family mystery was photographed. The soil is said to get under your skin and into your heart, which is true. However, problems of poaching, poverty, keeping game reserves going, and trophy hunting are real and dangerous. Knowing this makes this film even more uplifting.
The picture is an adaptation of one of three children’s books by author Kirsten Boie published. Thabo (Litlhonolofatso Litlhakanyane) is an 11-year-old who lives in a small village where “nothing much happens.” The only change is the tourists who stay at the lodge run by Agatha (Andrea Sawatzki) to see animals on the reserve. Thabo’s Uncle Vusi (Nhlakanipho Manqele) works as a ranger to help protect the wildlife.
The poaching of animals must be monitored, with rhinos being particularly popular because of their horns. During a guided tour, the group comes upon a lone rhino calf whimpering. An investigation reveals the adult mother dead in the bush with the horn cut off. The police are called, and Thabo helps in the investigation, finding an incriminating bootprint that points to Vusi. When his uncle is accused of being a poacher, Thabo sets out to find the real perpetrator with his best friend, Sifiso (Kumkani Pilonti), and Agatha’s visiting niece, Emma (Ava Skuratowski).

“…Thabo sets out to find the real perpetrator with his best friend…”
Thabo and the Rhino Case is not merely a children’s film since it combines crime and adventure with several topics like animal welfare. When the adults try to feed the orphaned rhino, it runs, as it does not yet trust people. In a beautiful moment, the children break that barrier. Also touched upon are heavy themes like the difficult lives of the local children. Poverty is widespread, and AIDS killing people plays a major role: many kids have lost their parents and must somehow get along without them. Prejudice rears its ugly head when the children originally accuse an Asian tourist, Mr. Wu (Joel Olano), because he is gruff with them, is a loner, and Chinese.
The acting ensemble works well, especially the children’s cast and leading actor. Litlhakanyane conveys the joy in life, whether he’s helping his uncle on tours or playing among the animals. This light-hearted moment of fun and others, such as splashing in the pool or running in the wide-open space of the gorgeous land, let the young actors revel in levity and frolic.
Thabo and the Rhino Case is a wonderful family film about real troubles and explains complex issues like poverty, animal rights, and prejudice without being heavy-handed or condescending. While poaching is a horrible crime, the film still looks at the fun side of life. You don’t have to travel to a place to understand the stigma of poverty or the dreams of young people, but this beautifully photographed film will make you want to visit other countries.
For more information, visit the Thabo and the Rhino Case Facebook page.