As March, Women’s Month, draws to a close, it’s a perfect time to celebrate the strength, resilience, and power of women every day. What better way to honor their incredible stories than by revisiting a remarkable documentary that uncovers the hidden world of women animal tamers?
A few years ago, as a freelancer, I had the opportunity to interview Anka Schmid, the Swiss filmmaker behind Wild Women – Gentle Beasts. This documentary delves into the lives of women animal tamers from different cultures, exploring their unique experiences working with wild beasts for circus shows. The story follows five women from four different countries: Namayca from France, Carmen from Germany, Nadezhda and Aliya, a mother-daughter duo from Russia, and Anosa from Egypt. Together, they tame lions, tigers, and bears, earning their living in a world often unseen by the public eye.
As audience, we visit circuses to be entertained, witnessing glamorous costumes, shiny outfits, and dazzling smiles amid clapping and music. But what lies behind the scenes of a circus? What does it take to be an animal tamer? Director Anka Schmid unpacks these questions by following these women through their daily routines, their training, and their intimate moments with these wild animals.
It took Anka four years to complete Wild Women – Gentle Beasts—from researching and meeting the animal tamers and getting comfortable with the animals to finally filming and producing the documentary. Since its completion in 2015, the film has been showcased at various film festivals around the world and has already aired on Swiss television SRF1. Ahead of the film’s broadcast, I had the chance to catch up with Anka Schmid and learn more about her creative process and the motivations behind her groundbreaking documentary.
The Inspiration Behind the Film
Kurlygirlreads: Let’s start with the inspiration behind your film. What motivated you to explore this subject?
Anka Schmid: As a child, I dreamed of becoming an animal tamer, especially after watching a TV series featuring a female tiger tamer. I was fascinated by the circus world. Over time, my ambitions shifted toward filmmaking, but when I started taking my son to the circus, I felt a renewed connection to the profession. The idea of animal taming, especially by women, intrigued me. It’s a profession that demands passion, and women face the added challenge of working with animals they cannot fully tame. I wanted to dive deeper into how this profession is perceived in different cultures and what goes on behind the scenes. The film is not just a portrait of this profession but a look at the glamour, the hard work, and the ambiguity of working with wild animals.
The Filmmaker’s Experience: Behind the Scenes
Kurlygirlreads: While these women are comfortable around wild animals, what was your experience as a filmmaker working so closely with them?
Anka Schmid: My main focus was on the women, but the animals also played a significant role in the film. We were a small team—myself, a cameraman, and a soundman. It was essential for us to understand the behavior of these animals, as they are used to loud noises, music, and the circus environment. However, we had to work very closely with them, which was risky. We studied their behavior to make sure we could safely capture intimate moments. The goal was to present an authentic, close-up experience for the audience. The sound you hear in the film was recorded from inside the cage, offering a raw and immersive experience.
Connecting with the Women
Kurlygirlreads: What kind of connection did you feel with the women you filmed?
Anka Schmid: I had a strong connection with each of the women. Namayca, the French tamer, is exactly one month younger than my son, and I saw her as a reflection of the younger generation—responsible and mature beyond her years. Anosa, on the other hand, defies all the stereotypes of a woman from the Arab world. She’s independent and bold, following in her grandmother’s footsteps, who was the first female lion tamer in the Arab world. The Russian women, Nadezhda and Aliya, represented the conflict between generations, as the mother was my alter ego, and I could relate to her experience of guiding the younger generation. The most complex relationship was with Carmen Sanders from Germany, who came from a non-circus background. Her mother was a writer, and we shared a similar language. Through her, I was able to enter this fascinating world of women animal tamers.
Anka Schmid: The Filmmaker Behind the Camera
Anka Schmid is a Swiss filmmaker, born in Zurich, with over 30 years of experience. After studying at the Deutsche Film- und Fernsehakademie in Berlin, she dedicated her career to storytelling through film. Anka believes in getting to know her subjects deeply and immersing herself in their world before embarking on a film project.
Since the release of Wild Women – Gentle Beasts, Anka has continued her work in film, with a variety of projects that further showcase her diverse storytelling. Some of her more recent works include:
- Melodie (2025)
- Alarm Phone (2024)
- Loba Loba (2021)
- Wie die Kunst auf den Hund und die Katze kam (2021)
- Coronal Surreal – Collection Lockdown (2010)
- Haarig (2017)
- La Dada – König Hirsch (2016)
Anka’s work continues to shed light on fascinating, often overlooked stories, with films like Wild Women – Gentle Beasts. Her unique approach to storytelling captures the strength and complexity of the women she portrays, offering us a glimpse into worlds that often remain hidden.
To learn more about Anka Schmid’s inspiring work, you can visit her at Swiss Films.
Very good https://is.gd/tpjNyL