“Pepe” is an insane and extreme work. A feature film based on real events, with essayistic passages and animated sequences that allow an impressive examination of the aftermath of colonialism. The film tells the unusual and fascinating story of Pepe, a hippopotamus brought to Colombia in the 1970s by the notorious drug baron Pablo Escobar. What began as an exotic status symbol soon developed into an ecological problem, which led to the government-ordered killing of the animal in 2007. This serves Dominican director Nelson Carlos de los Santos Arias as the starting point for a profound reflection on the exploitation of nature and culture. The film does not follow a traditional narrative style, but interweaves various storylines: Angel and Cocorico, two former Escobar henchmen, are responsible for transporting Pepe. At the same time, the relationship of a local couple disintegrates under the pressure exerted by the invasive animal on their environment and their lives. Pepe himself appears as the narrator, whose deep, distorted voice magically switches between different languages and perspectives, giving us an insight into the colonial wounds that are deepened by economic interests. Director Arias succeeds very creatively in negotiating abstract themes such as eco-capitalism and European arrogance in a convincing way. Pepe thus becomes a wild visual experience that integrates not only cinematic but also indigenous narrative traditions. Pepe” was awarded the Silver Bear for Best Director at the Berlinale.