Mark Reviews Movies: WHEN LAMBS BECOME LIONS

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Review by Mark Dujsik | November 21, 2019

Poaching remains an issue in Kenya, despite the work of wildlife rangers and a crackdown by the government. In a rather stunning achievement of access, When Lambs Become Lions takes a look at both sides of the battle for the preservation of elephants in the African country.

We first meet a man known only as "X," who hires hunters to kill elephants, while he arranges the selling of the animals' tusks. In the local town, he's a well-known figure. His right-hand man is Lukas, who lives in a hut and is suffering from an illness that doesn't seem to go away.

On the other side of the fight is Asan, a ranger, who is married, has a son, and is awaiting the birth of his second child. With a baby on the way, the family's financial situation is looking dire.

It doesn't help that the wildlife service hasn't paid its rangers in two months. A local manager comes to explain, but he mostly tells his employees that, if they don't like the situation, they can just quit. There are many people who would be eager to replace them.

The major, likely accidental accomplishment of director Jon Kasbe is how clear-cut of a narrative this backdrop, these people, and this material provide the film. There are close, intimate moments with each of these people, and if not for the fact that they occasionally talk to cameras or the filmmakers behind them, one would could be forgiven for believing that this is a work of fiction.

It's not, though, and that makes the various dilemmas and decisions of these people all the difficult to bear. "X" isn't presented as a villain, although he clearly wants to be one. Asan is far from a hero, because the lack of payment forces him to consider another option to make some money. In a heartbreaking moment, he reveals that he doesn’t want his own son to pity him in the same way he pities his father, a ranger who was murdered on patrol.

Some of this—the relationship between "X" and Asan, as well as just how willing both men are willing to condemn themselves on camera—almost seems implausible. It's true, though, and When Lambs Become Lions arrives at some harsh truths about how close anyone ever is to doing wrong, believing it's the only right option.

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