The Wolf and the Lion: a magnificent friendship
The wolf and the lion is a French-Canadian film directed by Gilles de Maistre (Mia and the White Lion), released in 2021. This family adventure film features a heartwarming story centered on the unlikely but profound relationship between a young girl named Alma and two wild animals, a wolf and a lion, who accidentally find themselves in his care after losing their family. He decides to keep them to save them, and the two creatures form very strong bonds and live like brothers. But a few years later, an incident prompted the authorities to act and separated the trio.
As in his previous film, Mia and the White LionGilles de Maistre prepared this feature film for many months, to find the perfect alchemy between two baby animals and a young actress. Particular attention was first paid to the ability of the main animals, a lion cub and a wolf cub, to form bonds with each other, fundamental to the credibility and success of the film. Four cubs and two lion cubs were then selected, welcomed into an animal sanctuary in Calgary, Canada, and observed so the film crew could select the pair that worked best. In the end it was the wolf Paddington (Mozart in the film) and the lion Walter (Dreamer), who were chosen for their natural understanding, but also for their ease in front of the cameras and in the company of a film crew.
How was the film shot?
Filming took place in an idyllic and remote location, two hours northeast of Quebec, near Lac Sacacomie. This location was chosen for its solitude and safety, providing a calm and controlled environment for the animals. The production invested in a chalet, previously built for the film Secret window starring Johnny Depp, and adapted it to be the main setting The wolf and the lion. Specific measures have been taken to ensure the safety of the animals and that of the film crewincluding the construction of sets that allow technicians to film remotely and the installation of a 2.50 meter fence to secure the area.
The production, spread over six blocks of filming from May 2019 to July 2020, was characterized by a flexible and respectful approach, similar to that adopted for de Maistre’s previous film, Mia and the White Lion. This process made it possible to follow the growth and evolution of the relationship between the lion and the wolf, often require script adjustments to accommodate the needs and well-being of the animals. Prune de Maistre, the screenwriter, had to demonstrate great adaptability, modifying the story based on the dynamics between the animals. The director underlined the importance of truth and authenticity in the relationship between the lion and the wolf, rejecting any form of deception.
What happens to Paddington and Walter?
At the end of filming The wolf and the lionit was agreed that Walter would join the reserve of Kevin Richardson, advisor for the film and beyond Mia and the White Lion, in South Africa. But after seeing the bonds that had been forged between him and Paddington, he didn’t want to separate them, and to eradicate the lion, who had always known Canada (as well as the other lion cub, who had been tested for the film at the beginning of filming). So, Walter and Paddington lived together after filming Andrew Simpson’s Reservealso a film consultant, in Calgary, Canada.
But now it seems that, if we are to believe the responses of Sally Jo Sousa, who also works on the reservation, on this Facebook post, that Walter and the other lion, Knox, have regained their freedom. For his part, Paddington continues to live with his pack of wolves.
Source: Cine Serie
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