Sisters of the Wilderness (2018)

There’s something special about 2018 doccie film Sisters of the Wilderness. It’s eye-opening, heartwarming, gentle and passionate and will leave you with a lot to think about long after you’re done streaming it.

It follows the journey of five young women through iMfolozi Wilderness – the oldest Game Park in Africa – as they search for strength, both within themselves and from their compatriots, as well as forgiveness and the courage to make their mark in society. It also highlights the impact industrialisation and mining has had on this environmentally delicate area, and on the rest of the planet.

It’s not one of those reality-doccie-fly-on-the-wall vibes. This is real. There’s no script. There are no re-shoots because someone’s hair didn’t look amazing. It will strike a chord in anyone who has ever felt lost or alone or held down. Sure, going into the wilds of Africa with lions and hippos and crocodiles is extreme, but that connection with nature strengthens this doccie to anyone who lives in Africa and has been to the bush.

It’s been shown across the globe, giving Africa a voice to people who may never have seen the wilds of this continent. “Director and cinematographer Karin Slater has created a profound film that casts a subtle focus on the abuse suffered by both wilderness and women in South Africa,” writes Scott Ramsay of traveller24.com.