In a Masai village, a drought forces the village elders to send out a group of young warriors to hunt down a mythical lion and sacrifice it, hoping that this symbolic act will end the drought. As the warriors journey across the plains of Kenya, they gradually learn the meaning of friendship, courage, and honour.

Inspired by Masai mythology, this is the first film to be solely populated by real-life Masai and spoken entirely in their native tongue, offering a rare glimpse into a culture isolated from the rest of the world.

Faced with a drought that endangers the continuity of their people, Masai elders are convinced that they have been cursed by the Red God - the God of Vengeance. Following the death of the war chief, a group of adolescents must now cross over to adulthood, forced to quickly form a new generation of inexperienced but brave warriors. The adolescents must bring back the mane of a legendary lion, which appears at every critical period of the Masai history to appease the wrath of the God and bring back the rains. The survival of their culture depends on this quest.


Pascal Plisson. France/Kenya. 2004. 89 mins. Masai with English Subtitles.

To be ordered from ArtMattan Productions (www.africanfilm.com)
Language: Masai with English subtitles


2007 | NYADFF | NEW YORK, Usa
* Selection