Mia and the White Lion (M6): How did young actress Daniah de Villiers really tame a lion?

This crazy project was born out of shock. with Gilles de Maistre Mia and the White Lion germ during filming little princes (Documentary released in France 2 in 2011) is a series of portraits of children from all over the world who have a special relationship with animals. The director then travels to South Africa, where he films a young boy whose parents raise a lion for “protection reasons.” reality is quite different. ” When I left the farm I found out that this place was selling animals to hunting companies and the boy had turned into a lie. “Remembers the filmmaker. That’s what happened to Mia. She grew up with Charlie, an adorable snow-fur lion cub born on her family’s farm. When she learns the truth at age 14, she embarks on a journey with the lion to reach the Timbavati wild reserve.

Paws and big hugs

But filming this tale of a close friendship between a human and a cat seemed impossible without special effects. ” Maybe if you don’t buy a lion cub and “adopt” the child.. That’s the (not-so-crazy) idea that South African zoologist Kevin Richardson came up with. This ardent protector of big cats has been nicknamed “the man who whispers in the ears of lions” for his ability to understand their language and behavior. So much so that he plays with them, sleeps with them, hugs them… His videos on social networks are watched by millions. He introduced the young Daniah de Villiers, who played Mia, who was hired to oversee the shoot, to his method of impregnation. For three years, at the rate of three sessions a week, he shared the life of Thor (Charlie, who is christened in the movie), first a large kitten, then an impressive 250-pound monster. ” Daniah tried to imitate the zoologist by rolling on the ground like him, with a physical approach to appropriating her relationship with the lion… She has some scars on her! says Gilles de Maistre. The result: From hugs to frenzied races in the savannah, the film offers startling sequences of complicity between these two “showing monsters.” The student almost passed the master.

Some rescued animals

With his foundation, Wildlife Sanctuary, Kevin Richardson works to prevent the disappearance of lions in South Africa. At the time of filming, there were 8,000 specimens in breeding versus less than 3000 in the wild. Because Gilles de Maistre wanted to raise awareness about this scandalous situation, the zoologist agreed to give him his expertise. Richardson was also assured that the lions used would integrate a sanctuary at the end of the shoot. ” The film crew bought them from the big cat farm, which was designed to be game trophy. At least we saved them! In May 2021, the South African government announced its intention to ban the practice. It has not yet been included in the law.

Mia and the White Lion Broadcasts on M6 on Friday, September 2 at 9:05 pm

Isabelle Magnier