This arrestingly beautiful adventure shot on the savannahs of Kenya depicts a community's quest to bring rain to their land and ensure their survival. A band of very young Masai warriors sets out to kill a mystical lion to... more » end a drought that is plaguing their village. Barely teenagers, the warriors are untested and unskilled, and they are unsure whether the lion actually exists. And, if it does exist, will bringing back its mane cure the drought.
MASAI: THE RAIN WARRIORS is the debut fictional film of Pascal Plisson, a devoted nature documentarian. It is the first film to be solely populated by real-life Masai and spoken entirely in their native tongue.« less
"Good family movie. It's a rare opportunity to experience a film that tells a story from the perspective of an indigenous people who have shunned the modern world to cling to ancient traditions that have been passed from generation to generation for millennia. Yet, the film's message is universal and timeless."
Magnificent
The Djeli | Ile Ife, Nigeria | 07/13/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I won't reveal the story in its entirety, but I will say that the overall theme is about the journey of facing the lion, which is an aspect of Masai culture in East Africa. It is philosophically about entering manhood, learning responsibility, and working with others; And though the story makes it clear that things don't turn out perfect, the Masai sensibility pays little mind to that and focuses on the well being of the community, which is what it is all about. Face the lion and enrich your community."
One of the Best African Films I Have Ever Seen
Gerard D. Launay | Berkeley, California | 07/14/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The West used to call Africa the "Dark Continent" and in some ways the
description still holds because the attitudes about Africa have not changed. Most movies depict the earlier African natives as uncivilized savages or hotbeds of chaos, disease, and war. This film is a beautiful set piece that restores to the African people the dignity which they deserve.
Situated in Kenya, the Masai land is suffering from drought and famine...so the wise elders understand that the land can be cured if the Great Lion is conquered. Should that happen, the rains will arrive and bring life back to the region. So a group of teenage warriors are chosen by the village to undergo a life or death quest to find and kill the lion.
What makes the film so moving is that the Masai people and customs are shown exactly as they are...the young men otherwise are neither stick heroes or villains, but a group that fights and agrees among each other as they attempt to fulfill their quest and save their village. Filmed beautifully in color, it is epic in scope.
Everyone I have shown this film has thoroughly enjoyed it...so search it out and learn about a culture that rarely is portrayed as it actually is."
Intact Africa
Michael Kerjman | 05/02/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It is a rare opportunity to see Africa as it is in her native beauty, where hardship of living and sacrificing own lives for a tribal good depicted intact, not being affected yet with civilization inevitable (The Weisse Massai, for instance)."
Another time, another place
student | 02/11/2010
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I enjoyed watching this DVD and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys learning about other lands."