Christian Petzold's 'Undine' Premieres at Berlin Film Festival

Christian Petzold's film 'Undine' premiered in competition at the 70th Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) in 2020. The film reimagines the mythological figure of Ondine, a water spirit from Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué's romantic tale, who must kill her lover if he betrays her. Petzold sets the story in contemporary Berlin, where Undine Wibeau (Paula Beer), a historian and guide at the Märkisches Museum, delivers an ultimatum to her boyfriend Johannes (Jacob Matschenz): if he leaves her, she must kill him. After Johannes abandons her for another woman, Undine meets Christoph (Franz Rogowski), a deep-sea diver, during a dramatic encounter involving a shattered aquarium. Their romance unfolds against the backdrop of Berlin's urban transformation, as Undine narrates the city's history. The film explores themes of female power, myth, and the dark side of femininity, challenging patriarchal narratives that cast women as victims. Petzold uses the myth to examine love, betrayal, and the monstrous feminine, with Undine's fate hanging on whether Christoph will also abandon her. The review was written by Carlotta Petracci for Artribune.