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Undine

Play trailer 1:45 Poster for Undine 2021 1h 30m Drama Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
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89% Tomatometer 143 Reviews 67% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
Christian Petzold (PHOENIX, TRANSIT) boldly reimagines the ancient myth of Undine in this suspenseful tale of romance and betrayal in modern day Berlin. Undine (Paula Beer) works as a historian lecturing on Berlin's urban development. But when the man she loves leaves her, the myth catches up with her. Undine has to kill the man who betrays her and return to the water. Will Undine defy fate when she meets a diver (Franz Rogowski) offering her a chance at new love?
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Undine

Undine

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Critics Consensus

Undine draws on folklore for a dark fantasy whose murky storytelling is often offset by the enchanting romance at its core.

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Critics Reviews

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Jake Wilson The Age (Australia) 12/18/2021
3.5/5
The ritual is intriguing but the spell doesn't entirely take hold. Or perhaps the magic remains hidden in the depths of the film -- and it's up to each viewer to take the plunge. Go to Full Review
Adam Nayman The Ringer 07/19/2021
Undine's area of study is Berlin's gradual architectural mutation from century to century; a shot of two lovers diving among submerged ruins whispers a warning that all things-from true love to civilization itself-must pass. Go to Full Review
Jenny Nulf Austin Chronicle 07/16/2021
4.5/5
Undine's hauntingly aching romance is enchanting, as thick as the feeling of inhaling water into your lungs. Go to Full Review
Julian Singleton Cinapse Jul 12
Passionate romances and the history of a nation are connected with a mythic underpinning that is all at once tragic and transcendent. Go to Full Review
Hector A. Gonzalez The Movie Buff 09/08/2024
B
The ancient myth of Undine is reimagined into a modern-day romantic fairytale of the same name. Go to Full Review
Calum Cooper In Their Own League 07/14/2024
3/5
Its craft, direction, and performances are undeniably impressive, as is its mystical tone. But it feels as though all this skill is being applied to a story that, overall, does not hold as much substance as it seems to think so. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Harold Chorny 06/13/2021 fine movie. artistic exploration of line between realism and fantasy. a myth can have potent power. See more Alles Klar 06/06/2021 Beautiful shots of Berlin, romantic but human moments of love, who knew Architectural lectures could be so sultry. A bit long feeling, and there is a huge catfish named Gnther. See more constance m 06/05/2021 beautifully executed and performed See more Claudio C Nov 11 Undine (2020) The Myth of Undine (12,054– 11 Nov 2025 – by Claudio Carvalho) In Berlin, the historian Undine Wibeau (Paula Beer) is dumped by her boyfriend Johannes (Jacob Matschenz) in a cafeteria near her job. Undine asks him to wait for her since she has a presentation to make and tells him that she will have to kill him, if he leaves her. When she returns, Johannes has left the place, and the spectator Christoph (Franz Rogowski) has a clumsy encounter with her. Christoph is a professional diver, who works with two friends repairing turbines and other submerged equipment, and they begin a relationship. But when Christoph has an accident while working, the life of Undine changes. “Undine” (2020) is a Franco-German romance based on the myth of Undine. Paula Beer has a great performance in the role of the mysterious woman, who is dumped first by her love, but immediately falls in love with a diver. When he has an accident, she seeks revenge and returns home. The romance is attractive and fantastic. My vote is seven. Title (Brazil): “Undine” My Blog: https://maniacosporfilme.wordpress.com/ See more Hiroki S 06/23/2024 Beautiful sweet visual take on an ancient mythology See more 09/06/2022 Sold as an urban mythological romance and a paean to the city of Berlin, German writer-director, Christian Petzold's new film begins with Paula Beer's mysterious and lonely Undine, an architectural historian, mid-rendezvous with her lover who's dumping her for another woman. Almost immediately after, there's a rather Germanic meet-cute which brings Franz Rogowski's shy and reserved industrial diver, Christoph, into the picture and the two begin a romantic courtship over the rest of the film. Since it was never explained what an Undine is, (for the benefit of those who like me has to google it: according to European mythology, it's a water nymph that becomes human after finding love but have to return to water if her partner becomes unfaithful) I was left rather bewildered during the film which follows closely the above mythology. Without that background knowledge, the story feels rather odd and baffling. In fact, even on reflection with the understanding what she's meant to be, there are parts of the film that still don't make total sense. Also unclear, or at least something that sits rather uneasily with me, is the juxtaposition of this mythical creature with the re-generation of the city of Berlin between WWII and its reunification that the film spends quite a bit of time on. So despite fine performances by the central leads and passionate and competent handling of the material by Petzold, I remain curious but tepid about the whole thing and I fear that a more cynical viewer such as I will not be entirely receptive to the romantic notions, both for the lovers and the city, that the film is attempting to convey. Or in the words of a parting lover: it's not you, it's me. See more Read all reviews
Undine

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Movie Info

Synopsis Christian Petzold (PHOENIX, TRANSIT) boldly reimagines the ancient myth of Undine in this suspenseful tale of romance and betrayal in modern day Berlin. Undine (Paula Beer) works as a historian lecturing on Berlin's urban development. But when the man she loves leaves her, the myth catches up with her. Undine has to kill the man who betrays her and return to the water. Will Undine defy fate when she meets a diver (Franz Rogowski) offering her a chance at new love?
Director
Christian Petzold
Producer
Florian Koerner von Gustorf, Michael Weber
Screenwriter
Christian Petzold
Distributor
IFC Films
Production Co
Schramm Film, ZDF, Les Films du Losange
Genre
Drama, Romance
Original Language
German
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 4, 2021, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 4, 2021
Box Office (Gross USA)
$78.4K
Runtime
1h 30m
Sound Mix
Dolby
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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