Undine (2020)

Directed by: Christian Petzold | 90 minutes | drama, fantasy | Actors: Paula Beer, Franz Rogowski, Maryam Zaree, Jacob Matschenz, Anne Ratte-Polle, Rafael Stachowiak, José Barros, Julia Franz Richter, Gloria Endres de Oliveira, Enno Trebs, Christoph Zrenner, Stefan Walz, Bita Steinjan

Christian Petzold, the director of films such as ‘Barbara’ (2012) and ‘Phoenix’ (2014), has been considered one of Germany’s most important filmmakers for many years. Petzold prefers to tell stories about love and freedom. These themes are also present in his new film, ‘Undine’, but mixed with a dose of fantasy. The film is loosely based on the well-known Undine myth, which Petzold has transported here to modern Berlin. A rather unusual choice. The result is a sometimes unbalanced, but always interesting fairy tale.

The story revolves around Undine (Paula Beer), the titular heroine of the film, who is actually a water nymph. The young woman is a historian and guide, specializing in the urban development of Berlin. When we first meet Undine, her boyfriend Johannes (Jacob Matschenz) has just left her. The same day she meets the diver Christoph (Franz Rogowski), whom she falls in love with. It is a new and joyful relationship, full of curiosity and conviction. The two are inseparable and spend every spare minute together. But Christoph senses that Undine is running from something. The water nymph is cursed and until Undine takes action, their relationship will not last. Undine will have to break the curse at all costs.

‘Undine’ is the second collaboration between Christian Petzold with Paula Beer and Frank Rogowski in the lead roles. In 2018, Petzold released the film ‘Transit’, his most talked about work to date, in which Beer and Rogowski also appeared as a couple in love. Because they were given the opportunity to develop their chemistry even then, it is all the more powerful here. Their relationship is the main driving force behind ‘Undine’. Interestingly enough, despite all the supernatural elements, it’s the more intimate and simple scenes between Beer and Rogowski that impress here. Their acting is believable and expressive, which only makes you long for more films in which they can be seen together. Petzold often worked with actress Nina Hoss in the past, but Beer and Rogowski can safely take over this role in the director’s work.

In terms of plot, however, the film falls short. Too bad is the treatment of the supernatural water nymph element and what this means for the overall story. As a viewer, you need knowledge of the original myth to really understand the film. This is an added value for the viewers who are already informed about the myth, but for the majority of viewers the story will therefore raise many question marks. Virtually nothing is explained about Undine, her past and the curse, ultimately resulting in an incomplete worldview. Ambiguity can certainly work in a film’s favor, but in the case of ‘Undine’ the mounting question marks are too exaggerated.

The lack of information is a pity, because with the given of the film – a water nymph in love in modern Berlin – you could of course do anything. But the acting performances of Beer and Rogowski are beyond dispute. It is hoped that Petzold will collaborate with the pair more often.