In 1997, a very unusual film was shown in competition at the Cannes Film Festival: Italian director Marco BELLOCCHIO had actually made a film based on a play by Heinrich von KLEIST and was nominated for the Palme d'Or.
THE PRINCE OF HOMBURG only became a classic on the stage long after the death of Heinrich von KLEIST (1777 - 1811). But as a film, it actually seemed so out of date in the 1990s that this Italian film was a huge statement. And indeed: this piece from the Romantic era was able to blossom into new life on the big screen.
It is about the Battle of Fehrbellin. The Great Elector (Toni BERTORELLI) is preparing to use wars to create a new powerful player in the circle of the major European powers: Prussia! The Prince of Homburg (Andrea Di Stefano) is one of his army leaders, but at the same time he is also a dreamy man who is all too often guided by his feelings. Exhausted and because of his newly ignited love for the beautiful Natalie (Barbora BOBULOVA), he misunderstands the Elector's explicit order not to attack the enemy. But the Prince of Homburg attacks! And wins an overwhelming victory! But because he disobeyed the Great Elector's order, he is court-martialed and is to be executed after being sentenced to death.
A romantic person who is concerned about his own individual feelings is still trapped in a time that cannot take the emotions of an individual into account. What's more, there is no awareness that life could be different than under absolutist rule. Marco BELLOCCHIO's film presents this tremendous event in beautiful images that often seem like nighttime dreams. Pierfrancesco FAVINO, who was to play the leading role in Andrea Di Stefano's directorial debut ULTIMA NOTTE DI AMORE (2023), a homage to the poliziotteschi of the 1970s and 1980s, can already be seen here in a smaller role. FAVINO also remained connected with Marco BELLOCCHIO. He was nominated for the EUROPEAN FILM AWARD in 2019 for the leading role in IL TRADITORE.
A film worth seeing that presents a classic of German-language literature in a whole new light!
