sr

Found in the first dictionary of the Egyptian language, is the hieroglyph ‘sr’, meaning ‘giraffe’. The tallest living terrestrial animal, its oldest ancestor roamed the Earth some twenty million years ago. In Lea Hartlaub’s endlessly fascinating film the animal is contextualised in terms of myth, fable, and both natural and human history. The result is as far from the anthropomorphic-centric trend in contemporary nature documentaries as you could get – and all the better for it.

Divided into diverse episodes, the giraffe is present more as a link between the diverse entries than the main subject of them. A plethora of narrative-driven tableaux, across thirty locations, spirit us through a sweeping history of the world, a genuinely epic story traversing millennia and continents, all anchored to this one creature. One of the remarkable strengths of Hartlaub’s narrative tapestry is its refusal to adopt a rigid formalist approach, instead remaining flexible and agile. This fluidity enhances the storytelling experience, allowing for a diverse and engaging exploration of history. Meditative, immersive, sometimes mischievously witty and often breathtaking in its visual and narrative sweep, sr is as contemplative as it is informed and as captivating as the animal that inspired it.

– Vanja Kaludjercic