Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters

It is a good thing to go into a film with low expectations, because that way you will not be disappointed and maybe even pleasantly surprised. Although far from brilliant, Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters was not as bad as I expected it to be. Renner and Arterton, as the famous siblings, are not particularly thrilling when they are on-screen together – mostly as they attempt to prevent their relationship coming off as incestuous – but they have some good moments individually.

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Quartet

Quartet was written by Ronald Harwood for the stage, who consequently adapted it for the screen. It follows the lives of four opera singers, living in a retirement home for musicians. They overcome the past, as well as the present, to come together once more to share their life long passion of music. It is evident that the script was written for the stage, as the cinematic possibilities are limited and the film struggles to break out of its theatrical mould. Dustin Hoffman, in his directorial debut, focuses instead on the fantastic characters – much as the script surely does.

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Where We Stand So Far

The year has barely started and already almost 100 rhinos have been killed by poachers. As before, most of the slaughter has occurred in the Kruger National Park. In March the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) will take place in Bangkok, Thailand. South African Water and Environmental Affairs’ Minister Edna Molewa will most certainly bring the matter of rhino poaching to the fore. Furthermore, 21 arrests have been made this year.

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A Cheetah is a Girl’s Best Friend: An Interview with Leah Brousse

Immanuel Kant said that “we can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals”. In this case it is the heart of a woman. Leah Brousse is a French-born, German girl living in South Africa. She has been working at Inverdoorn for just over a month and her passion for what she does is evident in every word and every smile. She is a resident cheetah handler at the game reserve and, without hesitation, will tell you that what she loves most about working with them is “everything”.

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