Fantastic wildlife film, but is it about Botswana?

MONKAGEDI GAOTLHOBOGWE
Staff Writer | Monday April 11, 2011 00:00

Politicians were asking in hushed tones at the end of the violent, action-packed wildlife documentary, The Last Lions, whether the film was really promoting Botswana?

There was hardly any mention of the Okavango, Duba Island, Botswana in the more than 60-minute long film that was screened to the VIPs including President Ian Khama, diplomats residing in Gaborone, and the media, amongst others. Even specially elected Member of Parliament (MP) Dr Gloria Somolekae was heard asking fellow MPs if they heard any mention of Botswana, with her colleagues shaking their heads in response.  Bagalatia Arone, the youthful MP who comes from the wildlife-rich area of Botswana where the film was shot, was also not convinced the Okavango Delta and Botswana had been done any justice in the documentary. The name Botswana is mentioned in the opening of the film, just once.  The trailer of the movie on YouTube also makes no mention of Botswana, the Okavango Delta or Duba Island, but the clip mentions Africa, and South Africa.  This is the official clip being used to hype and market the movie, by the way.  Meanwhile, the Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO) has been promoting the movie in North America, taking the producers around 16 cities on 28 flights, this was said by the producer Derek Joubert when talking about the movie at the screening at the SSKB, Mogoditshane. However, it is not clear whether during their tour of the world the producers are specifically promoting Botswana or the mission of the film, which is conservation of the big cats. Of course, the BT's decision to pour money into the marketing of the movie when it is already being marketed by its promoters, National Geographic, is baffling.  The organisation's chief executive officer (CEO) Myra Sekgororoane announced at the launch how they have been promoting the movie in North America. They are even running competitions that would see North American travellers being flown here all expenses paid, to come and see the Okavango Delta and the locations where The Last Lions was shot.

The BT also has an advert on National Geographic website, where visitors can enter for the competition and win trips to Botswana. Already the movie has played in over 80 cinemas around the world since it premiered in February this year in the USA.

The movie has also attracted raving reviews by the international press, as well as on various internet sites.