Pepe (2024)

Overview

"Pepe" is an experimental and unconventional cinematic experience bearing the signature of Dominican director Nelson Carlos De Los Santos Arias, one that pushes the language of film beyond the ordinary. This 2024 production received great acclaim at the Berlin Film Festival, earning its director a significant award. Based on a true event, the film centers on the story of hippopotamuses that escaped from Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar's private zoo and spread across the wilderness of Latin America. However, rather than presenting this story in a classic documentary or dramatic narrative format, "Pepe" develops an entirely original cinematic language, offering viewers an unusual experience.

The most striking aspect of the film is that the narrative perspective is that of a hippopotamus itself. This hippo, named Pepe, accompanies the film as a voice questioning its own existence, humanity's intervention in nature, and the search for identity. The director builds a bridge between genres by combining documentary footage, fictional scenes, archival material, and experimental visual techniques. This approach transforms "Pepe" from a mere animal story into a profound meditation on colonialism, ecological destruction, and the relationship between humans and animals.

The film is also remarkably creative in its use of language, employing Spanish, Afrikaans, and Mbukushu together to enrich the story's geographic and cultural layers. This multilingual structure also reflects the film's effort to present a global narrative.

Plot

The story of "Pepe" is shaped from the perspective of Pepe, one of the African hippopotamuses brought by Pablo Escobar to his estate in Colombia in the 1980s. After Escobar's death, the hippos in this abandoned zoo gradually spread around the Magdalena River, becoming an ecological phenomenon never before seen in Latin America. Based on this real event, the film presents a narrative shaped by fragments of memory and inner voices, in which Pepe questions his own identity and existence.

Rather than following a linear timeline, the narrative adopts a fragmented and layered structure. The viewer witnesses Pepe's journey from his origins in Africa to his new life in Colombia through both the animal's subjective experience and the perspective of human characters. How the local people, the authorities, and nature try to cope with this strange and uncontrollable creature forms the film's social and political subtext. Although Escobar's shadow does not appear directly in the film, the lasting and destructive impact of his legacy on nature is one of the film's central themes.

Why Watch It?

"Pepe" is not for those seeking an ordinary viewing experience, but it stands as an important discovery for viewers interested in productions that push the boundaries of cinema and provoke thought. The film's greatest strength lies in its unusual narrative perspective, which reverses the human-centered point of view. Questioning humanity's approach to nature, power, and ownership through the eyes of an animal grants the viewer an entirely different way of thinking.

The film is also extremely impressive in terms of visual direction; the grandeur of the natural settings, the contrasting color palette, and experimental camera techniques offer a rich cinematographic experience. Furthermore, the ecological destruction, colonial legacy, and interspecies ethical issues addressed by the film are directly connected to current global concerns. The award it received at the Berlin Film Festival is an indication that the film's artistic value has also been recognized by international cinema circles.

Who Is It For?

"Pepe" is ideal for viewers open to art cinema and experimental productions, far removed from classic narrative structures. Cinephiles familiar with documentary-fiction hybrid formats, who follow festival films, and who enjoy exploring different narrative forms in cinema will find great satisfaction in this film. It also offers rich intellectual material for those interested in topics such as ecology, environmental ethics, and post-colonial trauma.

On the other hand, "Pepe" may be challenging for viewers accustomed to fast-paced storytelling, a clear plot, and traditional dramatic structure. The film demands a layered viewing experience that requires patience and attention. For this reason, it is fair to say that it appeals to a curious and open-minded cinema audience.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

1. Its unusual and daring narrative perspective offers a truly original experience in cinematic language.

2. It is an impressive production with high artistic value in terms of visual direction and cinematography.

3. It successfully explores deep themes such as ecology, colonialism, and the human-nature relationship.

Cons:

1. Its fragmented and experimental narrative structure may be difficult for traditional film audiences to follow.

2. Its slow pace and abstract storytelling may not appeal to every audience.

Genre and Tone

"Pepe" is a hybrid production that blends elements of documentary, drama, and experimental cinema. Its tone is generally melancholic, thought-provoking, and at times dreamlike. The film deliberately blurs the boundaries between reality and fiction, distancing viewers from traditional narrative expectations. Its poetic use of language adds depth to the film's atmosphere while also occasionally evoking a dark and unsettling mood. This tonal diversity is an important element supporting the film's multilayered structure.

Runtime and Viewing Experience

The film's runtime, in keeping with its experimental structure, is close to that of a standard feature film and demands full concentration from the viewer. While watching "Pepe," it is recommended that you surrender yourself to an atmospheric and sensory experience rather than expecting to follow a traditional story. The film is better suited to being watched not in one sitting, but with room for reflection between scenes. Additionally, its multilingual structure and use of subtitles may make the viewing experience require more intense attention. Moments of silence and the sounds of nature form an important part of the film's overall atmosphere, and for this reason, it is recommended to watch it in a quiet environment, away from distractions.

Similar Productions

For those interested in the experimental storytelling and human-nature relationship themes offered by "Pepe," the following productions may provide a similar cinematic experience:

• Zama (2017) – Directed by Lucrecia Martel, a production that portrays colonial-era Latin America with an atmospheric touch.

• Cemetery of Splendour (2015) – A film by Apichatpong Weerasethakul, notable for its dreamlike and meditative narrative style.

• Leviathan (2012) – A striking production that explores the relationship between humans and nature through an experimental documentary language.

• Los Reyes (2019) – A documentary told from the perspective of stray dogs, offering a perspective of a world without humans.

• El Abrazo de la Serpiente (2015) – An impressive Colombian production dealing with themes of colonialism and nature in the Amazon rainforest.

• Gunda (2020) – A quiet yet impactful documentary filmed from the perspective of a pig, centering an animal's point of view.

Final Assessment

"Pepe" stands out as a bold and original production that pushes the boundaries of cinematic art. Drawing on Pablo Escobar's legacy, the film questions humanity's intervention in nature, the long-term effects of colonialism, and the search for identity, stepping outside traditional narrative molds to offer viewers a profound intellectual experience. With its visual richness, multilingual structure, and unusual narrative perspective, "Pepe" is a must-see production for art cinema enthusiasts. However, this originality