A Far Off Place 1993

Drama

Adventure

Box Office

$13M

Runtime

108 mins

Language

English

Directed by

Mikael Salomon

Made by

Walt Disney Pictures

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A Far Off Place Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for A Far Off Place (1993). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.

Nonnie Parker, Reese Witherspoon, is a spirited wildlife advocate determined to follow in her parents’ footsteps as a wildlife commissioner fighting Africa’s elephant poachers. Against his wishes, spoiled New York City teen Harry Winslow, Ethan Embry, accompanies his father to the Kalahari Desert to spend time with Elizabeth Parker, Patricia Kalember, and Paul Parker, Robert John Burke, Nonnie’s parents, where the two clash.

That night, Nonnie and the family dog, Hintza, sneak out of the house to meet her bushman friend, Xhabbo, Sarel Bok. Inside a cave, they spend the night helping Xhabbo recover after he is attacked by a leopard.

At dawn, Nonnie returns to the house to discover that her parents and Harry’s father have been murdered for investigating the ivory export, a poaching operation secretly run by Paul Parker’s associate, John Ricketts, Jack Thompson. Nonnie hides from the poachers but Ricketts realizes Nonnie and Harry are missing.

Nonnie manages to grab explosives and attach them to the bottom of the poachers’ truck, killing several of Ricketts’s men. She flees to the cave and Xhabbo advises them to “follow the wind” by heading west across the Kalahari Desert.

follow the wind

On the edge of the desert, Xhabbo communicates with a herd of elephants and convinces them to cover their tracks by following behind. Harry is furious to learn they have 2,000 kilometers to travel before reaching the seaport of Karlstown, but Nonnie remains optimistic.

Meanwhile, the Parker family’s close friend, Colonel Mopani Theron, Maximilian Schell, learns of the attack. Unaware of Ricketts’s involvement, he orders Ricketts to lead an aerial search party to find the missing children. Harry attempts to flag down an approaching plane, thinking they are being rescued, but Nonnie warns they could be poachers and says they should hide.

Harry stuffs their clothes with straw to make fake decoy bodies which they place in the sand. In hiding, the children watch in horror as the plane passengers gun down the straw bodies. Nonnie sees it was Ricketts.

Over the next two months, the runaways dig up plant roots for sustenance, and Xhabbo teaches Harry how to speak his native language and hunt gemsbok. Harry creates a garment of gemsbok fur and gifts it to Nonnie. Theron remains convinced that the Parkers’ death was a corporate conspiracy and continues his tireless search for the exporters’ store of elephant tusks, which he believes will lead him to the killer.

Nonnie and Harry discover Xhabbo stung by a scorpion. While finding water, Nonnie collapses in the sand. Hearing the hum of Ricketts’s approaching helicopter, Nonnie and Xhabbo weakly thump their chests in the spiritual Bushman practice of “tapping”, summoning a sandstorm and forcing Ricketts to flee.

Unaware they are only a few hundred yards away from the Atlantic coast, the trio fall unconscious then awaken in a Karlstown hospital. There, Nonnie is reunited with Theron and informs him that Ricketts was responsible for her parents’ deaths. Once they recover, Nonnie and Harry accompany him to Ricketts’s mining facility, where they find his hoard of elephant tusks. They rig the place with dynamite and, just as Ricketts arrives, they lead him outside and light the fuse. Ricketts runs back into the mine trying to extinguish the flame, but the dynamite explodes and buries him within the mine.

Sometime later, Nonnie and Harry say goodbye to Xhabbo, who returns to the Kalahari. Harry kisses Nonnie before boarding an aircraft home to New York, and she tells him to leave without looking back. However, as Nonnie begins cleaning the charred remains of the Parker home, Harry returns, and they embrace.

A Far Off Place Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of A Far Off Place (1993) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.

Arrival in the Kalahari and family clash

Harry arrives with his father to spend time with Nonnie's family in the Kalahari. The spoiled New York teen clashes with Nonnie's wildlife-hero aspirations and the desert lifestyle, setting up their conflicting dynamics. The tension foreshadows the adventures to come.

Arrival Kalahari Desert

Nonnie and Hintza meet Xhabbo after leopard attack

That night, Nonnie and the family dog Hintza sneak out to meet bushman Xhabbo. Harry follows them to a cave where they stay and help Xhabbo recover after a leopard attack. The encounter introduces a key ally and marks a shift in Nonnie's path.

Night Cave near Kalahari Desert

Discovery of parents' and Harry's fathers' murders

At dawn, Nonnie returns to the house and discovers that her parents and Harry's father have been murdered while investigating ivory export. The revelation links the killings to a larger poaching operation run by associates of the Parker family. The moment hardens Nonnie's resolve to seek justice.

Dawn Parker residence, Kalahari

Nonnie hides from poachers; Ricketts discovers the missing

Nonnie hurries to hide from the approaching poachers, but Ricketts quickly realizes the two children are missing. This discovery triggers a manhunt that deepens the danger and launches the chase across the desert. The threat becomes personal for both youths.

Morning after murders Parker residence vicinity

Nonnie plants explosives; following the wind

Nonnie uses explosives to sabotage the poachers' truck, killing several of Ricketts's men. She then flees to the cave, where Xhabbo advises them to 'follow the wind' west across the desert. The plan pivots from escape to targeted retaliation.

Shortly after attack Kalahari Desert

Elephants guide escape; 2,000 km to Karlstown

Xhabbo summons a herd of elephants to mask their tracks and carry them forward. The trio must trek about 2,000 kilometers to reach Karlstown, with Harry grumbling about the distance while Nonnie stays hopeful. The journey marks a perilous and transformative crossing.

Edge of desert to Karlstown Across the Kalahari Desert toward Karlstown

Theron orders an aerial search for the children

Colonel Mopani Theron learns of the Parker family attack and orders Ricketts to lead an aerial search for the missing children. The search intensifies as the truth about the ivory operation remains hidden from official eyes. The stakes rise as the hunt expands into the skies.

Shortly after the murders Theron's command post, unknown location

Decoy bodies and the plane massacre

Harry stuffs their clothes with straw to fashion decoy bodies and places them in the sand. A rescue plane's passengers gun down the decoys, and Nonnie realizes that Ricketts is aboard the aircraft. The deceptive tactic underscores the ruthless reach of the poachers.

Mid-search Aerial search flight over desert

Two months of survival and bushcraft lessons

For two months the runaways survive by digging plant roots and learning bushcraft from Xhabbo. Harry learns the local language and gemsbok hunting, while he fashions a fur garment for Nonnie. Theron continues his tireless hunt for elephant tusks and the hidden conspiracy behind the killings.

Two months later Kalahari Desert

Xhabbo stung; water search and sandstorm

The group tends to Xhabbo after a scorpion sting, and they press on in a harsh desert search for water. When Ricketts's helicopter nears, Nonnie and Xhabbo trip the tapping ritual to summon a sandstorm that forces the intruder to flee. The moment showcases Bushman spirituality and desert cunning.

During drought/water search Kalahari Desert

Awakening in Karlstown hospital and Ricketts is exposed

They awaken in a Karlstown hospital, where Theron rejoins them. Nonnie explains to him that Ricketts was responsible for her parents' deaths, confirming the corporate conspiracy behind the ivory trade. The hospital scene pivots the story toward direct confrontation with the criminals.

Sometime after hospital arrival Karlstown hospital

Confronting Ricketts at the mining facility

After recovering, the trio confronts Ricketts at his mining facility and discovers a hoard of elephant tusks. They rig the place with dynamite, lure Ricketts outside, and light the fuse. Ricketts runs back into the mine as the explosion buries him.

After recovery Ricketts's mining facility

Farewell to Xhabbo and return home begins

Nonnie and Harry bid farewell to Xhabbo as he returns to the Kalahari. Harry shares a kiss with Nonnie before boarding a plane back to New York, and she urges him to leave without looking back. The relationship moves from danger and discovery toward a hopeful separation.

Sometime later Karlstown, then airport

The final embrace amid the charred Parker home

Back at home, Nonnie begins cleaning the charred remains of the Parker house, only for Harry to unexpectedly return. They embrace, sealing their reunion and a new understanding of what they fought for together. The ending pairs relief with a tentative new beginning.

Moments after return Parker home, NYC (charred)

A Far Off Place Characters

Explore all characters from A Far Off Place (1993). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.

Nonnie Parker (Reese Witherspoon)

A spirited wildlife commissioner in the making, Nonnie is driven by her parents' legacy and a fierce commitment to stopping elephant poaching. She clashes with Harry at first but remains determined, resourceful, and courageous in the face of danger. She hides from poachers, leads the plan to uncover the ivory operation, and proves unwavering in her pursuit of justice.

🌿 Activist 🎯 Determined 💪 Resilient

Harry Winslow (Ethan Embry)

A spoiled New York City teen who accompanies his father to the Kalahari. He initially clashes with Nonnie but grows through the ordeal, learning survival skills and how to work with others. Over time, he adapts, speaks some of the bushman language, and helps with the plan to outsmart the poachers.

🌆 City-born 🧭 Adaptable 💪 Growth

Xhabbo (Sarel Bok)

A bushman friend who becomes a crucial guide for the children. He helps them recover after a leopard attack, teaches them how to read the land, and offers cultural insight that aids their survival. His knowledge and calm presence anchor the group during the desert trek.

🪶 Wise 🤝 Helper 🐘 Wildlife guide

John Ricketts

A ruthless associate behind the ivory export operation, responsible for the Parkers' murder. He uses calculated moves and violence to protect the trafficking network, making him the principal antagonist. His plan unravels as the protagonists close in on the hoard of tusks.

💼 Villain 🎯 Calculated 🔫 Dangerous

Paul Parker

Nonnie's father and a figure tied to the ivory trade. His involvement in the poaching operation places him at odds with Nonnie's mission, and his murder underscores the personal cost of wildlife crime. His presence frames the ethical tensions at the heart of the story.

💼 Businessman 💰 Corrupt 🗺️ Behind-the-scenes

Elizabeth Parker

Nonnie's mother, a devoted protector of family and wildlife. She is murdered in the anti-poaching conflict, leaving a legacy that fuels Nonnie's determination. Her memory motivates the pursuit of justice against those who threaten both people and elephants.

💔 Grief 🕊️ Family 🛡️ Protector

Colonel Mopani Theron

A close friend of the Parker family and a determined investigator. He leads the aerial search for the missing children and remains convinced there is a larger conspiracy behind the ivory trade. His persistence drives the pursuit to the mining facility where the tusks are stored.

🎖️ Commander 🕵️ Investigator 🌍 Humanitarian

John Winslow

Harry's father and a figure who accompanies the family to Africa. He becomes a casualty of the poaching conflict, underscoring the personal stakes of the fight against ivory trafficking. His memory shapes Harry's resolve and the story's emotional arc.

👔 Father 🕊️ Victim 🧭 Guiding

A Far Off Place Settings

Learn where and when A Far Off Place (1993) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.

Location

Kalahari Desert, Karlstown, Atlantic coast

The Kalahari Desert provides the harsh, open backdrop for the story, with vast red dunes and scarce water shaping every decision. The journey moves from inland desert to the coastal seaport of Karlstown, highlighting the stark contrast between survival in the desert and life near the sea. The environment also features wildlife like gemsbok and elephants, which become integral to the plot and the protagonists' plan to escape.

🏜️ Desert 🐘 Wildlife 🗺️ Travel

A Far Off Place Themes

Discover the main themes in A Far Off Place (1993). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.

🌍

Conservation

The plot centers on opposing ivory poaching and wildlife trafficking. Nonnie Parker's mission as a wildlife commissioner drives the action, highlighting the fragility of elephants. The revelation of a corporate-backed ivory export operation underlines systemic greed that harms people and wildlife. The film uses danger and pursuit to emphasize why conservation is vital, even when it costs the protagonists personally.

🏜️

Survival

The desert trek tests the children's endurance as they travel hundreds of kilometers across arid land. They learn bushcraft from Xhabbo, build shelter, find water, and adapt to harsh conditions. The environment itself acts as a character, shaping choices and creating obstacles. Their resilience becomes a bond that sustains them through isolation and danger.

🤝

Friendship

Two youths from different worlds, Nonnie and Harry, must cooperate despite clashes of temperament and social expectations. They learn trust, courage, and mutual respect as they confront a common enemy. Their partnership evolves into a pragmatic alliance that keeps them alive. The bond withstands heartbreak and risk, culminating in a hopeful reunion.

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A Far Off Place Spoiler-Free Summary

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In the sweeping emptiness of the Kalahari, the desert becomes a character of its own—vast, relentless, and hauntingly beautiful. Sun‑bleached horizons stretch beyond imagination, while night skies blaze with stars that seem to watch every footstep. The film’s tone balances stark survival realism with an undercurrent of wonder, inviting the audience to feel both the oppressive heat and the quiet awe that the African wilderness can inspire.

Nonnie Parker arrives in this unforgiving landscape driven by a deep‑seated passion for wildlife and a desire to follow the legacy of her parents, who have long championed the continent’s fragile ecosystems. Her spirit is resilient, her curiosity unyielding, and she brings with her a fierce sense of purpose that collides with the harsh realities she soon faces. Opposite her is Harry Winslow, a privileged teenager from New York whose life has been shaped by comfort and expectation. Thrust into an unfamiliar world far from the city’s bustle, he wrestles with his own preconceptions and the bewildering freedom that the desert offers.

The unlikely pair initially clash, their contrasting attitudes sparking tension that gradually gives way to mutual respect. Their journey is quietly steered by Xhabbo, a resourceful bushman whose deep knowledge of the land and its hidden rhythms provides both guidance and a subtle reminder of the ancient ties humans share with nature. Through his mentorship, the strangers learn to read the wind, track the subtle signs of life, and find sustenance where it seems impossible.

As they press onward across endless dunes, the desert tests their resolve with each shifting sandstorm and scorching day. Yet within this crucible, Nonnie and Harry discover unexpected reservoirs of courage, ingenuity, and companionship. The trek becomes less about reaching a distant shore and more about the transformative power of facing the wild—alone and together—while the African landscape watches, ever‑present and endlessly enigmatic.

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