Children’s crime thriller
“Thabo”: detective story full of serious topics
Thabo (Litlhonolofatso Litlhakanyane) proves himself to be a detective. photo
© Eckhard Kuchenbecker/Wild Bunch Germany/dpa
The children’s adventure is based on the book of the same name by Kirsten Boie. At the center of the story is an eleven-year-old who would like to be a detective.
Who “The Three ???” or “The Peppercorns” will love this detective film. Because in “Thabo – The Rhino Adventure” a lot of things appear that an exciting young criminal film needs: an unsolved criminal case, a search for clues with lots of footprints and shoes, false suspects – and of course somewhat lame police officers who help from brave children to solve the case.
The children’s adventure is based on the book of the same name by Kirsten Boie. The story takes place in the village of Hlatikulu in southern Africa, where, according to eleven-year-old Thabo (Litlhonolofatso Litlhakanyane), nothing is going on. But then a rhino is killed in the adjacent nature reserve and the horn is sawed off. This is Thabo’s chance to prove himself as a detective. Together with Emma (Ava Skuratowski), who has traveled from Germany, and other children, he sets out to find the criminal.
Changing the view of Africa
It was important to Kirsten Boie that children in Germany get to know the world of children elsewhere through her books. This is now also possible in film, explains the author in the dpa interview. “We want to change the view of Africa a little bit and show that although the poverty is extreme, the children there are not only poor and pitiable, but also cool, funny and clever.”
In fact, the film touches on a lot of serious topics, not just the main theme of poaching, but also poverty and AIDS. Lead actor Litlhonolofatso doesn’t think that this portrays the people in his homeland in a negative way. “It simply makes other people aware that such diseases really exist,” the 14-year-old told dpa.
Racism and prejudice also play a role in the film by director Mara Eibl-Eibesfeldt. The German Film and Media Rating (FBW) gave it the rating “particularly valuable” and said: “Thabo” raises awareness of important social, ecological and political issues without appearing didactic. “The film creates a thrilling mix of exciting detective stories, child-friendly adventures and spectacular animal and nature shots.”
Thabo – The Rhino Adventure, South Africa, Germany 2023, 93 minutes, FSK from 6, by Mara Eibl-Eibesfeldt, with Litlhonolofatso Litlhakanyane, Ava Skuratowski, Andrea Sawatzki