National Geographic’s new documentary series LION is The Lion King come to life. LION follows a young and vulnerable lion cub named Kio on his journey to becoming king. What we see is behind his rise are the lionesses whose strength, sacrifice and leadership keep the pride alive.
What The Film participated in a virtual roundtable alongside journalists from Forbes Women and THR and spoke with Kenyan filmmaker Faith Musembi. In our interview we discussed the remarkable role lionesses play in the series and why their stories reminded her and us of the women who quietly hold families and communities together.
“The lionesses run the show,” Musembi said.
Often times the male lions are viewed as the ultimate symbols of strength in the kingdom. Musembi explains however that lionesses hunt, care for their young and work collectively to sustain the pride. In the documentary we event meet Kio’s mother, Summer, who leaves her own group and devotes herself to giving her son a fighting chance at survival.
For Musembi, that sacrifice felt familiar.
“As women, we do that all the time,” she said, noting how women often put aside their own needs to care for others.
Musembi also reflected on her own mother’s sacrifices while raising her in Kenya and how those memories shaped the way she viewed Summer’s story.
While stories like LION are important to share the people who work on it behind the scenes are just as important to the story. And beyond LION, Musembi is working to change who gets to tell African wildlife stories. After building her career in an industry where African filmmakers remain underrepresented, she is establishing a wildlife film training school to help create pathways for the next generation.
LION may be Kio’s journey to becoming king, but the series also shines a much deserved spotlight on the lionesses helping him get there.
LION is now streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.
