Rhino (2025)
Rhino (literal translation: Rhinoceros) is a 2025 British documentary film directed by Tom Martinsen from a screenplay by Tom Martinsen and Cassandra Roberts. The film was released in the United Kingdom on 28 November 2025.
Rhino is not an ordinary wildlife documentary — the film presents a tense and human story of conservation for one of the most protected, but also most endangered, species on the planet — the black rhinoceros.
In the heart of Kenya, a protected herd of black rhinos has achieved incredible success—a team of rangers dedicated to protecting the species has not lost a single animal in years. But this success is leading to new problems: the animals are starting to clash with each other as the sanctuary becomes overcrowded and battles for territory become increasingly fierce.
A complex and dangerous mission begins: relocating 21 rhinos 60 miles west to a new, more spacious sanctuary that will provide them with a better future. This is not just a logistical operation - it is a daily battle with nature, poachers and uncertainty, where every day is fraught with risk to human and animal life.
The film shows these challenges in real time — from strategic planning to the execution of the relocation, revealing not only the scale of the effort but also the emotional toll on the rangers who risk everything to save their beast.
Tom Martinsen uses natural footage as a means to highlight the grandeur and fragility of the wild. With minimal but powerful commentary, the film doesn’t just present facts—it builds an atmosphere of struggle and hope through field shots and scenes that almost look like the plot of an action thriller. The editing balances between calm, contemplative scenes and moments of real danger, making the film not just educational, but dramatic and engaging.
The main person behind the voice and the narration is Tom Hardy – a narrator (voice) who guides the viewer through the story in a warm yet compelling tone. The ranger teams, including the relocation project leaders and rhino conservationists, are also featured through real footage, showing their personal struggles and challenges.
Rhino is more than just a wildlife film — it is an emotional, visually captivating, and socially relevant story about the survival of one of the most vulnerable animal groups on the planet. The documentary manages to retain both the scientific value of the subject and the human emotional charge, making it appealing to both nature lovers and a wider audience. It is a film that makes you think about the cost of wildlife conservation, the „battle“ between man and nature, and sustainable solutions for the future.
