Christian Petzold's 'Afire' Examines Climate Crisis Through Summer Film Tropes
The 2023 film 'Afire' (Rote Himmel), directed by Christian Petzold, delves into the influence of climate change on summer cinematic storytelling. Set against the backdrop of late summer wildfires near the Baltic Sea, the narrative centers on writer Leon (Thomas Schubert) and photographer Felix (Langston Uibel), who are on vacation with Nadja (Paula Beer) and lifeguard Devid (Enno Trebs). Drawing inspiration from Anton Chekhov's 1896 tale 'The House with the Mezzanine' and Éric Rohmer's 1996 film 'A Summer's Tale,' the film juxtaposes Leon's observational detachment with the actions of others, highlighting gender dynamics in artistic partnerships. Felix's imagery echoes Caspar David Friedrich's 1818 artwork 'The Wanderer above the Sea of Fog.' Unlike Petzold's previous works, 'Afire' emphasizes the forest fires that catalyze Leon's artistic awakening amid ecological disaster.
Key facts
- Christian Petzold directed 'Afire' (Rote Himmel) in 2023
- The film stars Thomas Schubert, Langston Uibel, Paula Beer, and Enno Trebs
- Set near the Baltic Sea during late summer wildfires
- Inspired by Anton Chekhov's 1896 story 'The House with the Mezzanine'
- References Éric Rohmer's 1996 film 'A Summer's Tale'
- Compares to Mia Hansen Løve's 2021 film 'Bergman Island'
- References Kathleen Collins's 1982 film 'Losing Ground'
- Mentions Caspar David Friedrich's 1818 painting 'The Wanderer above the Sea of Fog'
Entities
Artists
- Christian Petzold
- Thomas Schubert
- Langston Uibel
- Paula Beer
- Enno Trebs
- Virginia Woolf
- Anton Chekhov
- Éric Rohmer
- Mia Hansen Løve
- Vicky Krieps
- Kathleen Collins
- Caspar David Friedrich
- Nina Hoss
- Angela Schanelec
Institutions
- ArtReview
Locations
- Berlin
- Germany
- Baltic Sea
- Italy
- Greece
- Denmark
- East Germany
- London
- United Kingdom