The Last Ranger has won numerous awards.
Actress Avmir Kwonko, who plays a ranger against rhino poaching in a new short film, said she felt empowered by the story of fighting against poaching.
“Watching this film sparked my curiosity to learn more about various topics, especially rhino poaching,” Kwonk said. The Citizen.
in a short film last rangerKwonko plays Kuselwa, the last remaining ranger who protects young Lisa, played by Liyabona Mrokoza, and introduces her to the wonders of the hunting reserve.
Their journey takes a dark turn when they are ambushed by poachers, leading to a fight to save the rhinos and ultimately uncovering a devastating secret.
Qongqo said it became clear during the making of the film that as long as socio-economic disparities are addressed with a lackluster approach, rhino poaching will continue.
“As a result, international syndicates often take advantage of the economic vulnerability of particular communities to recruit poachers, and while people are not absolved of responsibility, comprehensive and It means we urgently need to come up with nuanced solutions to prevent rhino poaching and avoid possible extinction of the animals we have the power to protect,” says actor Shard.
The actress said she is thrilled to be a part of this ongoing conversation.
“Playing Kuselwa has empowered me as a person, as a woman, and as an actor.”
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female ranger
The film also spotlights female rangers, dispelling the misconception that this job is only for men. Qongqo said the misconception that women are not rangers is amplified by the fact that women have been kept away from professions of a similar nature as film directors.
“In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of qualified female rangers in South Africa and other parts of the continent,” she said.
last ranger Directed by Cindy Lee.
“Also, stories of this nature in film are rarely championed by women, let alone black people, as is the case with my character Kuselwa, and it is very rare that a story of this nature is championed by a woman, let alone a black person, as is the case with my character Kuselwa. I don't get a chance to talk about it. Because Cindy Lee is a woman, I had more control over the character and my interpretation of her.”
The film was shot in 2020, when Qongqo was processing personal loss and grieving. The sense of loneliness she felt when she first read the script was the first point she connected with her character.
“Then I used this to access her more and it became the first building block of my inner world. The challenge is to keep it low-key and not overload the story with too much sadness. But despite the undeniable presence of sadness, every once in a while a glimmer of joy and kindness would surface.”
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deliver it to people
In early November, the film was screened at the Isivivana Center in Khayelitsha, where Konkwo's brother was in the audience.
“I took the whole village with me, but the most moving moment was when my brother shouted, 'Kyati Kunje Cinema?'” [so this is what cinemas look like?]'And he'd never been to the movie theater,' she said.
It was rewarding for her to see audiences relate to this universal story.
“Watching the room change after the audience (the majority of Khayelitsha) became immersed in the story and felt connected to some of the characters and the story was unimaginably rewarding. ”
“It was great that they felt this was their film/story as well, as a local choir, the Tanda Choir, gave a beautiful performance as the voice behind the music. , they felt even more so.”
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widely acclaimed
last ranger Winner of multiple awards including Best Narrative Short Film at the Pan African Film Festival, San Diego International Film Festival, and Cordillera Film Festival, it was nominated for an Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film at the 2025 Academy Awards. .
Qongqo said the film's universal appeal is because it has many layers, one of which is the human condition.
She is referring to a scene in the film where the young character Lisa's father fights as he ponders the actions he will later take.
“The immediate thing to do may be to criticize him, but if you're honest with yourself, you'll find no shortage of examples of people making compromise decisions to meet immediate needs,” she said. says.
Throughout the film, the audience is faced with the theme of contrasting realities that coexist, and the characters are constantly called upon to confront that reality, accepting a call that is perhaps familiar to humanity as a whole. He added that it would be.
last ranger She also won the Best Screenplay and Best Actress awards for both Murokoza and Konkuko, and was selected at several prestigious film festivals such as the Cleveland International Film Festival, Indie Shorts, American Conservation Film Festival, and Pretoria Film Festival. Award, and solidified its status as a fascinating film. It speaks to universal themes of environmental justice and women's empowerment.
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