Baxu and the Giants

In late 2018 I was approached by Producer Andrew Botelle, asking if I would be interested in directing a Short Film aiming to sensitise Namibian teenagers of Wildlife Poaching in rural Namibia, commissioned by the Legal Assistance Centre Namibia.

I was intrigued, but I realised that I did not know too much about the issue - not more than any fairly interested person from reading about poaching in newspapers and watching documentaries.

Giving it a bit of thought though I realised that, however limited my knowledge at the time - I did have an opinion. I felt that the some of the reasons for Wildlife crime - why do poachers poach? what are the social and economic reasons behind it? - were somewhat missing from the conversation.

Another thought was - wouldn't it be great to see the issue through the eyes of a young girl? A girl that does not understand why anyone would kill animals for monetary gain, but is forced to learn as she comes into contact with it. And we - the audience - learn about it with her. Watch her forced to grow up and make difficult moral decisions.

I started developing the script with my co-writer and - from that time on - partner-in-crime, Girley Jazama. And in writing I found myself more and more dealing with issues but also beautiful idiosyncrasies that I carried inside of me from having married into a family from the Damara tribe myself.

We quickly fell in love with Baxu and her way of seeing the world.

Finding her was another mission. After auditioning almost 50 girls, from public auditions to visiting schools and churches, we finally found our perfect Baxu in 9-year old Camilla Jo-Ann Daries.

Making this film was a beautiful, informative and emotional process. We travelled, we met people, and everybody that came into contact with our story and our young heroine helped in some way, many people working hard on bringing Baxu and her story to life, and out into the world.

With this film we aim to create a discussion around Wildlife Crime.
And to highlight one of the roots of the issue - a lack of perspective and opportunities for young people in the villages in rural Namibia.

And - hopefully - this film can be part of the change and inspire the youth to be the generation that ends Rhino Poaching.