Saved events

Der Kampf um den heiligen Baum/ The Battle of the Sacred Tree [35mm]

Cinema Restored

Two women and a man laugh whilst standing in front of a shop front.

Traditional African beliefs conflict with missionary domination in a rural Kenyan village in Wanjiru Kinyanjui's powerful drama, centring around a supernatural tree. 

Based on Barbara Kimenye's short story and set in a Kenyan village, the film follows Mumbi as she escapes her abusive husband in Nairobi and returns to her ancestral home. There, she clashes with a Christian women's group intent on wiping out pre-colonial beliefs, particularly setting their eyes on a revered tree believed to have supernatural powers. The film’s dialogue alternates between English and Swahili, enriched by the soundtrack of Senegalese musician Mamadou Mbaye.

Shot entirely in Kenya with a local cast, Der Kampf um den heiligen Baum celebrates African storytelling and invites viewers to explore cultural identity and tradition.

Directed by Wanjiru Kinyanjui, the Kenyan writer, poet and filmmaker, the film was her graduation project for DFFB (the Berlin' film school), and showcases her wit and self-assurance as a filmmaker.

Tagged with: Cinema Cinema Restored

Germany 1995 Dir Wanjiru Kinyanjui 82 min

Languages: English, Swahili

Print courtesy of Deutsche Kinemathek - Museum für Film und Fernsehen.

With thanks to Kristov Brändli.

 

£10.40

Become a Member

Corporate Members - Various Pricings

Become a Corporate member

 

Students £11

Unwaged £11

Over 60s £11

Under 18s £6

Wheelchair spaces, free companion seats may now be booked online.

Please select the relevant preferences on the access registration page during your booking, so we can provide you with the correct information and discounts.

Booking a wheelchair space

Select a seat displaying the wheelchair user icon and then select 'wheelchair user' ticket type. The ticket will be priced at the lowest price for that event. If you need an essential companion, please select the E icon next to the wheelchair space you have selected.

Booking essential companion tickets

Please select at least two tickets and one of them will be automatically discounted to zero in the basket.

Booking British Sign Language or Captioned Seats

Select seats in the area appropriate to your needs.

*Excludes £1.50 booking fee

Let our screens bring you closer

So come for a date… come alone… come with your grandparents… come with your little one… Come and let our screens bring you closer.

Cinema 3