Thursday, February 21, 2pm - 4pm
Our 2019 film series continues with Krabat (titled Krabat and the Legend of the Satanic Mill in the English adaptation)!
This 2008 historical-fantasy film, directed by Marco Kreuzpainter, is based on the book Krabat by Otfried Preußler. Preußler’s original inspiration for the book came from an old Sorbian folktale about a magic sorcerer (Krabat) who uses his power to punish those committing unethical acts (rather like a magical Robin Hood).
Featuring David Kross (The Reader, War Horse) and Daniel Brühl (Goodbye, Lenin!, Inglorious Basterds), this star-studded cast combined with the film’s special effects bring fantasy and magic to life. Set in Europe in the 17th-century, the movie delves into the background of Krabat the sorcerer, exploring his life as a young boy. Krabat, played by Daniel Kross, finds himself completely alone in the world as the result of the death of his family members following the Plague and the Thirty Years War. After hearing a voice in his dreams telling him to visit a mill in a nearby village, Krabat, in a stroke of luck, finds the mill keeper there is willing to take him on as an apprentice. As one of many apprentices, Krabat develops friendships with the other boys at the mill, and this softens the loss of his family.
The old mill keeper, however, is not as ordinary as he first appears – Krabat soon learns that the keeper is teaching his apprentices the art of dark magic, including various magic rituals, while they are under his care. At an Easter ritual that brings them to a nearby village, Krabat meets and falls in love with a young girl named Kantorka. His best friend, Tonda, also meets a girl who he becomes smitten with. When Tonda’s new love turns up dead later, Tonda asserts that the mill keeper is responsible.
In an even more sinister turn, Krabat discovers that each year on New Year’s Eve, the keeper sacrifices one apprentice so that he can remain living for another year. When Krabat’s friend Tonda is murdered, Krabat is devastated and vows to avenge his death. With the help of the young girl and his apprentice friends, Krabat begins on a journey to overcome dark evil; this sets off a series of events that will determine his fate.
Suitable for both older children and adults, this film re-imagines the classic theme of good versus evil in an exciting and moving film. Krabat was nominated for the Deutscher Filmpreis in 2009.
This film will be shown in German with English subtitles.
Coffee and cake will be provided!
Cost: $8 for non-members; $5 for members
Location: GAHM, 719 Sixth St. NW Washington, DC 20001
Kindly RSVP by email to [email protected] or by telephone to 202.467.5000.
