August, 2005 - Nr. 8
World Premiere Of Hermine
Huntgeburth’s The White Masai
– A Gala Presentation –
Toronto - Directed by Hermine Huntgeburth, THE WHITE MASAI receives its world premiere as a Gala Presentation at the 30th Toronto International Film Festival. Based on the best-selling autobiographical book by Corinne Hofmann, THE WHITE MASAI tells the fascinating epic story of a young woman who defies countless cultural obstacles in Africa to be with the love of her life. The film stars Nina Hoss, Jacky Ido, Janek Rieke, and Katja Flint.
Carola (Nina Hoss) and her boyfriend Stefan (Janek Rieke) have just spent their holidays in Kenya. Towards the end of their stay, they meet the handsome tribal warrior Lemalian (Jacky Ido). Lemalian is striking his elaborate traditional headress and costume, his hairstyle and staggering height set him apart from all others in Kenya in a manner that is nothing less than imposing. Carola is taken with Lemalian and falls head over heels in love with him. She launches into a series of fateful acts impulsively canceling her return flight and sending her boyfriend (Janek Rieke) back home to Switzerland alone. Carola stays in Kenya and sets out in search of Lemalian, abandoning everything she knows.
In her grueling journey through the Kenyan landscape, Carola meets a German woman (Katja Flint) in a remote village deep in the bush, and the two become friends. There, she finds Lemalian again and follows him to his village, a community of cave dwellings that is entirely unlike the pristine Swiss environment she is used to. With incredible energy, she braves all obstacles and builds a new life for herself in Africa. But what she felt was the biggest love of her life turns into an ordeal, an adventure between heaven and hell, a journey that takes her to her limits.
Shot on location in Kenya, THE WHITE MASAI delves into the depths of the African wilderness and delivers a sweeping love story that is breathtakingly beautiful.
THE WHITE MASAI is directed by Hermine Huntgeburth, and written by Johannes W. Betz. A Constantin Film Production, the film is produced by Günter Rohrbach. THE WHITE MASAI is a presentation of Beta Cinema.
Gala Presentations at Roy Thomson Hall are made possible through the sponsorship of VIACOM, Paramount Pictures Canada Distribution Inc.,
and Showtime Networks Inc.
