Germany 2024, 103 min, Hebrew, English, Chinese, Farsi, German, Swahili and Tamasheq, Hebrew & English subtitles
The subject of this exceptionally profound, multilayered, and visually rich documentary essay is the owner of the world’s longest neck and an equally long history. The giraffe’s behavior is a biological anomaly—it is a non-territorial animal that communicates over long distances. As such, it has always piqued the curiosity of humans, who have tried to unravel the enigma of its existence. The ancient Egyptian hieroglyph for “giraffe,” “sr,” was synonymous with prophetic vision, while in imperial China, the giraffe was the equivalent of a unicorn, a symbol of gentleness and grace. The film presents 16 thought-provoking vignettes from disparate corners of the globe, including Kenya, Palestine, Ramat Gan, the Philippines, and Mount Ararat, woven into an associative tapestry. In it, giraffes roam the savannah and stand stuffed in museums; they are heroes and victims, held sacred and hunted down.
Previous Festivals: Rotterdam, Gothenburg, True/False, Ambulante, Docs Against Gravity
Animals Depth of Field Competition The Cinematic Edge Official Website