Discover the Shocking Secrets Unveiled by This Tree Narrator in Congo’s Colonial Saga!

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Recently, the Democratic Republic of Congo has been dominating news headlines due to conflict reports and the progress of the March 23 Movement rebels. However, a new essayistic film titled “The Tree of Authenticity” (L’arbre de l’authenticité) by photographer and visual artist Sammy Baloji is shedding light on its colonial past and ecological importance. This film had its world premiere in the Tiger Competition at the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) on Sunday.

Based on studies from the 1930s, this film emphasizes the crucial function of the Congo Basin in absorbing carbon dioxide and maintaining global ecological equilibrium over the past century,” the IFFR synopsis states. “Modern-day comparisons serve as a chilling reminder of the fragility of our current ecosystem.

The movie is divided into three segments, showcasing personal accounts, vintage photographs, contemporary video recordings, historical speeches, and scientific research findings to delve into the lasting effects of Belgium’s colonization on both human lives and the environment. It transports viewers to the shores of the Congo River where the once-prominent Yangambi INERA Research Station now stands as a blend of decaying remnants and dense jungle. In the initial two sections of the film, viewers are immersed in its history via the recollections and documents of scientists Paul Panda Farnana and Abiron Beirnaert, who were based there from 1910 to 1950.

As a passionate admirer, I was motivated to create this film – my debut as a director – to offer a more nuanced portrayal of the country and its significant impact on the global stage. A friend who’s a curator shared an article from The Guardian with me, suggesting I delve into this project. It depicted the Congo as being plagued by decades of war and lacking infrastructure as reasons for its struggles. However, I saw it as a perpetuation of the denial of other contributions – in scientific advancements, mineral resources, or even environmental elements crucial for modern life worldwide.

Moreover, copper mined in Congo played a significant role during World War I and was highly valuable, as he emphasized. Additionally, uranium extracted from Congo was crucial for the creation of atomic bombs. Therefore, I aimed to investigate various aspects related to mining, data collection, and perspectives from both the Congolese and colonial standpoints regarding these resources.

Initially, Baloji was tasked with compiling a wealth of content related to, and derived from, the two central scientists in the movie’s opening segments.

Instead, let’s say this: For the third segment, he enlisted anthropologist Thomas Hendriks, whose book “Rainforest Capitalism” was familiar to him, for assistance with writing. As they reminisced, they agreed to approach the material from the tree’s point of view, concentrating on the old tree mentioned in the title. Consequently, they collaborated on crafting the film’s most poetic and final part together.

In the process of deciding how the old tree would speak within the movie, Baloji unexpectedly added a shocking turn for the climax that he hadn’t initially planned – it turned out that the entire story was actually narrated by nature instead of characters. As he put it to THR, “Effectively, the whole tale is being told by the tree.” He didn’t originally have this concept; it all came together at the last moment.

The movie’s sound and ambient noises significantly contribute to its overall impact, growing increasingly prominent throughout. As Baloji pointed out, “Authentic natural sounds are crucial,” he stressed. “However, I also collaborated with two soundscape composers. One is Chris Watson, who has been capturing sounds from various parts of the globe. Prior to this film, I had worked on a short production with him exclusively using the sounds he recorded. Among these was the sound of ice melting, which was simply extraordinary – it was an absolutely mind-blowing sound.

Born in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo, and based both there and in Brussels, Belgium, this visual artist and photographer has a history of creating short experimental films and documentaries in collaboration with others. However, his latest work, titled “Tree“, further explores the themes that have been central to his art. As Baloji stated, “I have spent much time delving into our colonial past because I hail from Congo.

The filmmaker has plans for upcoming movies, one of which is adapting the script titled “Il Padre selvaggio” (The Savage Father) that was written by Pier Paolo Pasolini in 1962 but never produced. Baloji mentioned this to THR, stating, “I gained the rights to make an adaptation and I intend to begin working on it next.

The narrative delves into the struggles faced by the Congo, as portrayed through the interaction between an optimistic Italian educator and a Congolese pupil named Davidson. This contemporary setting will illuminate how Davidson grapples with his teacher’s ideals versus the impact of colonial heritage and traditional family instruction.

But first, Baloji is focused on showcasing Tree in Rotterdam. The IFFR 2025 runs through Feb. 9.

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2025-02-02 20:25