Who was Hans Schomburgk – adventurer, big game hunter, explorer, colonialist or pioneer of ethnography?

The film “The Eye of Africa” tells the fascinating story of a man who helped shape the early days of documentary cinema like no other – and explored the African continent more intensively than few Europeans before him.

Schomburgk, born in Hamburg in 1880, was the first filmmaker to shoot feature-length documentaries from Africa. Today, his footage is considered a film-historical treasure – it shows an Africa in upheaval, ethnographic, steeped in colonialism and full of contradictions.

From British police officer to celebrated animal rights activist and cameraman: Schomburgk’s life is characterized by transformation. At a time when colonial power relations and European arrogance determined the view of Africa, he developed a special sensitivity for people, cultures and animals.

The film accompanies him on ten expeditions across the continent, from Liberia to South Africa, from cotton processing in Togo to the secret Bundu order of women. It shows his tireless commitment to nature conservation – long before Grzimek or Attenborough.

“The Eye of Africa” focuses on Schomburgk’s cinematic legacy, critically contextualizes his colonial gaze – and at the same time sheds light on his achievements as a film pioneer.

A cinematic journey through the history of Africa and Europe – moving, visually stunning and surprisingly topical.

With pleasure! Here is the English version of the website text: