Director Christian Petzold discusses his latest film 'Undine' at the Berlin International Film Festival. The film explores themes of love, betrayal, and the mystical undertones of a water nymph myth. Petzold reflects on the influence of literature, like Moby Dick, in shaping the film's narrative and talks about the potential for a new fairytale movie trilogy.
Christian Petzold's film 'Undine' explores the mysterious love story influenced by the age-old myth of a water nymph, introducing elements of innocence and purity in relationships.
Petzold incorporates Berlin's history into 'Undine,' intertwining intellectual accounts of the city with magical elements to suggest a deeper understanding of history brings wonder to the world.
Deep dives
The Myth of Undina
Undina is a film by Christian Petzold that explores the myth of Undina. The film tells the story of a museum guide who enters a mysterious relationship with a new man. The relationship is connected to the age-old myth of a water nymph. Petzold discusses how the myth of Undina has subtly influenced his previous films, with recurring themes of unfaithful lovers and death in the water. The film delves into the complexities and mysteries of love and relationships.
Romantic Love in a Modern Setting
In Undina, Petzold portrays love as something ineffable and old-fashioned, contrasting it with the modern, mundane settings. The film's characters, despite their everyday lives, engage in a swooning, romantic love that seems out of place in their contemporary surroundings. Petzold explains that he wanted to create a sense of innocence and purity in the love between the characters. Through underwater scenes and a connection to nature, the characters find a love that stands in opposition to the superficial and advertisement-driven relationships of modern society.
History and Magic in Berlin
Undina also incorporates elements of Berlin's history and how it relates to the present. The film includes monologues where the character, a historian, recounts the history of Berlin, intertwining it with the story. Plastic models of the city serve as a visual representation of history, and through these monologues, Petzold aims to bring magic back into the city. By combining intellectual descriptions with the model of Berlin, the film suggests that a deeper understanding of history can bring a sense of wonder and enchantment to the world.
This week we have been reporting from the Berlin International Film Festival. And without a doubt, very high on the list of favorites has been Christian Petzold’s new film, Undine. You might know Petzold from his previous features such as Transit, Barbara, and Phoenix. Undine is the story of a museum guide who moves on from a breakup to a relationship with a new man. But there are undercurrents of something mysterious to this romance, which draws on the age-old myth about a water nymph. In Berlin, our assistant editor Devika Girish sat down with Christian Petzold, an inveterate storyteller, to talk about Undine.
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