It is estimated that around 140 hippos live on both banks of the Magdalena River in Colombia, and that’s it for now. Given the extraordinary reproductive capacity of this species, this number could be: Multiplied by 10 in 2034 and this would likewise exponentially increase the danger posed to the region by an extremely fierce animal (in the sense that it is also invulnerable), whose presence alone would constitute a threat to the local ecosystem.
This should be blamed – yes, along with drugs, kidnappings, bombings and indiscriminate murders. Until the famous ‘narco’ Pablo Escobar, who secretly imported hundreds of animals to establish a huge zoo on his farm in the 80s. The most famous of these, Pepe the hippo, is the protagonist of the film of the same name that competed at the Berlinale.
The animal’s journey is as follows: After Escobar was shot to death in 1993 and his farm was dismantled, the beast left the place where a dozen of its friends lived, settling about 150 kilometers south with his common-law partner, Matilda, and the baby born on the way.; The presence of the trio alarmed fishermen in the area, and following their complaints, a team consisting of army members was formed. Two advertisements from the German company Porsche In 2009, he ended Pepe’s life by shooting himself three times, once in the heart and twice in the head, just before taking a photo posing next to the corpse that angered half the world; The protests forced the authorities to protect hippos by law, which explains the extreme increase in their population.
It’s a very interesting story and that’s why the Dominican director rather than tell it from beginning to end, it’s frankly frustrating. Nelson Carlos De Los Santos Arias it turns the main character into a voice-over prone to voice-over, while hiding him among secondary characters, animated superimpositions, dream sequences, traditional scenes, and a few other attempts to showcase his creativity. spouting pseudo-philosophical rants in three different languages.
The other Golden Bear nominated film, ‘The Devil’s Bath’, which was released today, focused more on his speech. It was directed by Viennese filmmaker couple Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala, the creators of the once truly disturbing film. ‘Good Night Mother’ (2014) – and is set in Northern Austria in the mid-18th century. The film is about the progressive and relentless psychological collapse of a young woman, trapped in a society governed by religious fanaticism and superstitions, her obsession with becoming a mother in order to fulfill the duty expected of her, and her marriage to a man who uses her as a wall. where they will hide their true sexual orientation. And all the while it proceeds precisely, accurately and relentlessly, standing as a devastating critique of dogmatisms and the promises of salvation they offer.