About Gaia

"Gaia" is a 2021 eco-horror film directed by Jaco Bouwer. The movie follows the story of a park ranger who encounters two survivalists living a post-apocalyptic lifestyle in the woods. The survivalists believe the world has been taken over by a hostile nature entity, "Gaia". As the park ranger spends more time with them, she discovers that there might be some truth to their beliefs when she encounters a series of horrifying and unexplainable events.

Making / Production

The movie was filmed under difficult shooting conditions in the wilderness of South Africa. The crew often had to carry equipment through dense forests and murky waters. Regardless of the obstacles, Bouwer tried to incorporate the theme of respect for nature even in their filming practices.

Actors

• Monique Rocco: Monique plays Gabi, the park ranger. Her compelling performance brought depth to the enigmatic character of Gabi.
• Alex van Dyk: Alex plays Stefan, one of the survivalists. His portrayal of an individual living in post-apocalyptic conditions is both riveting and startling.
• Carel Nel: Carel plays Barend, the other survivalist. His performance contributes an eerie quality to the film, enhancing the story's horror elements.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The movie was shot in the Tsitsikamma forest, a real South African national park.
• The director, Jaco Bouwer, is known primarily for his theater work prior to making this film.
• Despite the movie's horror element, it is also considered as an exploration of environmental themes, focusing on human relation with nature.

Quotes

• Barend: "The earth has a skin and that skin has diseases. One of its diseases is called man."
• Stefan: "We are not killing nature. We are nature."

Music, Soundtrack

• The haunting score of "Gaia" was composed by Pierre-Henri Wicomb.
• The eerie background music adds to the gloomy and suspenseful mood of the movie.