Mi mascota es un león

Just watched this film with my two children who are 9 and 7. We enjoyed it a lot. It is beautifully shot and carefully filmed. The film also carries a powerful message that will resonate for children for care for our world.

My wife and I watched this at home on DVD from our public library.

Because the story involves a white lion growing from a newborn to an adult male over a three year period, and a young girl, Mia, growing from about 11 to about 14, the movie was actually shot over a three year time period. So there is no substitution of characters, we actually witness the lion and the two kids growing up.

Mia lives with her dad, mom, and brother on a farm in South Africa, primarily raising then selling animals that otherwise would be in the wild. Like lions. One day dad brings home this tiny, cute white lion cub, and they call him Charlie. At first Mia is annoyed with the cub, wants him to leave her alone, but they eventually bond.

When Charlie is about to be sold Mia finds out the actual fate of most of the "trophy" animals, they are sold to become targets of big game hunters in a captive environment, still a legal activity in South Africa. Mia decides to take drastic action to try and save Charlie from that fate.

There is a good "extra" on the disc telling about the process and what had to be done to train the lion to become the young actress' friend and not eat her.

It's such a pity this film isn't more popular! The pace of the narrative is great. It is engaging from the first minute. It's also evident to see how long they've taken to film it, as the boys grow along with the lion - about three years. While it focuses on the relationship between Mia and this wonderful lion, it also deals with family ties, connection with nature and the hard way in which these animal farms have to survive. Super recommended!

Tugs at the heart strings that's for sure. Beautiful animals and the characters were well played.

Saw this with my mom 'cause she really wanted to see it and it was her birthday. And she likes it quite a bit, and I at least don't regret having seen it.

But it is incredibly kitschy, manipulative and nothing new. The message though, it mostly gets across, and I agree with it of course. I don't at all hate the flick, but it's too much of a standard family movie.

Gotta add as well that it was fun and incredible to see that lion grow up, I won't lie, that got me a little emotional here and there. Beautiful animal. And btw. if any kid got inspired by this film, it did something right in the end.