"Under the Hanging Tree” is a film written, directed and produced by the young, promising Namibian filmmaker Perivi Katjavivi. The film is not a historical reconstruction, but tells the story of present characters who are confronted with their past. A policewoman is sent to investigate a German farm in a rural region where the genocide once took place. In the story, a German farmer is found hanging from a tree – the same tree from which German soldiers hanged Herero during the colonial era. In order to solve the case, policewoman Muretis must come to terms with her own Herero identity.
Katjavivi combines landscape portraits in the style of framed slides with menacing, dynamic camera angles in the visual presentation of the themes. He uses mystical elements and a visual language reminiscent of horror films to create a Film Noir story. The dark colonial past influences the present, the lives of individuals, interpersonal relationships and power relations. Katjavivi’s films deal with political themes and shed light on the darker side of Namibian society. His stories illustrate the devastating effects of colonialism, which can still be felt today.
