Königskinder

2005
Video, DV, 19.23 min
Abensberg, Germany

Königskinder is a short film that intertwines German folklore with modern themes, following Princess Nanabe and Prince Rudolpho on a journey of self-discovery through a surreal fairy-tale world. Set against the backdrop of Schloss Offenstetten, a historical castle, the story unfolds as a critique of tradition, xenophobia, and the clash between freedom and societal norms. Princess Nanabe, driven by a sense of adventure, leaves behind the safety of her home and enters a dark forest—a symbolic space of untamed nature and personal exploration. There, she encounters a witch but resists being led astray, finding her way to a village where she discovers Prince Rudolpho, who has been transformed into a wolf and locked in a cage. This captivity serves as a pointed critique of exclusion, as the villagers—played by a local medieval group from Abensberg—embody the fear and suspicion directed towards outsiders. The “bear” they have imprisoned represents anyone who doesn’t conform to the strict expectations of their community. The film’s rhymed dialogue lends a poetic quality to the narrative, blurring the lines between the whimsical and the profound. These lyrical verses explore the protagonists’ struggles with identity, self-acceptance, and the pressure to conform. The forest and the village create contrasting spaces—nature as a realm of liberation and raw emotion, and civilization as a place of restriction and judgment. As Princess Nanabe connects with the caged Prince Rudolpho, she defies societal expectations by loving what is deemed monstrous. This relationship challenges the rigid roles imposed by tradition, hinting at the possibility of personal and societal transformation. Through its symbolic storytelling, Königskinder critiques the narrow-mindedness of a society that fears difference while celebrating the courage to embrace it. The film acts as a modern fairy tale, reflecting timeless themes of self-discovery and rebellion against convention, while exposing the enduring struggle between freedom and the structures that seek to contain it.