A Far Off Place 1993

     Nonnie Parker lives on the savanna in Africa with her parents Paul and Elizabeth.  Harry Winslow is about her age and he comes to visit the Parkers with his father John.  Nonnie and her friend Xhabbo are very knowledgeable about the area but Harry is from New York.  He is almost blown up by dynamite when he doesn’t see a keep out sign.  Nonnie and her father are working on water piping for their property and using dynamite for clearing the area.  Noonie, Xhabbo and Harry go out in the bush together to explore.  Noonie goes back home and she discovers that poachers have killed her parents and Harry’s father.  The Parker’s have been against poaching of ivory from the elephants.  The only escape for Nonnie, Harry and Xhabbo is to walk 2000 kilometers through the Kalahari Desert to the coast.

      Xhabbo knows how to find water in the desert and he teaches Harry to hunt.  Harry doesn’t want to kill any of the African animals but they need water and food to survive their journey.  Several times a helicopter piloted by the poachers flies overhead to see if they are still alive.  The poachers don’t want risk leaving any witnesses to tell who committed the murderers.  It's a struggle against the elements in the Kalahari!!  3 ½* (I liked this movie)

108 min, Adventure directed by Mikael Salomon with Reese Witherspoon, Ethan Embry, Jack Thompson, Sarel Bok, Robert John Burke, Patricia Kalember, Daniel Gerroll, Maximilian Schell, Miles Anderson, Fidelis Cheza, Taffy Chihota.

Note:  Imdb 6.6 out of 10, 40% critic 69% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 2*, Amazon 4.7* out of 5* with 166 reviews.

Special Note:  Filmed in Zimbabwe and Namibia.  Originally Honeysuckle Weeks was cast in the role of Nonnie.  Witherspoon studied with the Matabele tribe to perfect the Bushman language.  She was almost 17 years old at the release date of 12 March 1993.  Ethan Embry was 14 years old.