Every year, more animal species are becoming extinct or are on the brink of disappearing forever. One of those used to be the black rhino, as due to illegal hunting and habitat loss, their population has fallen to just over 6,000. However, thanks to incredible conservation efforts, such as those of Ramson Kiloku and his team of rangers in Kenya, the number of black rhinos has been increasing. Kiloku's remarkable story is now coming to the big screen thanks to director Tom Martienssen (Gaucho: The Last Cowboys of Patagonia). Guided by Tom Hardy's (Venom: The Last Dance) warm yet underused voice-over, Rhino becomes one of the most beautifully shot, inspirational documentaries you'll see in a long time.

The movie instantly shows you why this particular wildlife preservation program deserves its own documentary. A total of 1,900 rhinos have been poached in Africa in the past three years, but none in Kenya. This is because of individuals such as Kiloku, who is not only the head ranger at his village but also a member of the Borana Conservancy. His love for black rhinos and dedication to their protection shine through instantly. It's mesmerising to see how he knows which rhino is standing in front of him just by looking at its footprints and ears. He and his rangers go to unseen lengths to ensure that all the rhinos find a place in the diverse conservancies such as the Loisaba Conservancy. Sadly, their great endeavours don't come without their challenges, including high-risk transportation, devastating droughts and the rise of poaching.

The biggest challenge, sadly, is the black rhinos themselves. Due to the increasing number of rhinos in those conservancies, males need to put up bigger fights to defend their territories and families. These deadly conflicts are going against everything Kiloku wants to achieve, and therefore, his work, no matter how well-meaning and inspirational, also carries inherent risks.

While those obstacles and risks are hard to overcome, the black rhino population seems to be steadily increasing. A new rhino is born, and Kiloku does everything in his power to ensure that the calf is safe from poachers and its own kind. Making the birth and growth of the calf part of the story, alongside the relocation of 21 black rhinos, is a highly clever move by the filmmaker. The story might be extremely straightforward, but because you want to see if this little rhino can beat the odds and survive, the movie will have you in its power all the way through, despite its simplicity.

Equally straightforward are both the cinematography and editing. Martienssen shot all the footage himself, which illustrates both his passion for his craft and the documentary's subjects. Whether it's wide shots of the vast, beautiful African landscape and its animals or interview-style footage of Kiloku, the filmmaker uses a natural approach to bring all the splendour captivating to life. Because of the almost invisible editing, it feels like the director drops you right in the heart of the rhino territory and takes you on a life-affirming journey.

While Rhino could have dedicated a bit more of its runtime to the climate crisis' impact on endangered species, that flaw doesn't diminish its importance or gorgeousness. The filmmaker fearlessly shows both the beauty and its complex realities, resulting in a powerful, stunningly shot, and raw documentary.

Rhino is in UK cinemas from 28 November courtesy of Kaleidoscope Film Distribution.