sr

According to Egyptologist Adolf Erman, the hieroglyph “sr”, which signifies giraffe, means ”to announce, to foresee, or to predict”. Named after this hieroglyph, the film revolving around giraffes simultaneously tells a story about giraffes and much more.

Through the long-necked and slightly comical-looking animal, the film addresses political power relations, colonialism, culture, and religion. Additionally, the documentary takes the viewer to a German contemporary art museum, a giraffe manor, Israel and Palestine, Kenya, and an exotic game ranch in Texas.

With a stationary and distant camera, the film appears like a series of dioramas where people swarm and giraffes move leisurely in their own world. In an essay-like manner, the film does not provide definitive answers about giraffes or humans, but rather meanders contemplatively around its subject.

Nelia Naumanen