Los Nibelungos: La muerte de Sigfrido

Adaptation of a series of German legends about the Nibelungs, beings that dwell in the mist. It tells the story of Siegfried, the son of a king, who, after forging a magnificent sword and becoming a skilled blacksmith, must return to his father's castle. However, captivated by the tale of the beautiful princess Kriemhild, he decides to win her over. He then leaves his father's castle with the aim of defeating a dragon, whose blood grants invulnerability to those who bathe in it.

In 1924, Fritz Lang made a significant mark on silent cinema with Die Nibelungen, composed of The Death of Siegfried (1924) and Kriemhild’s Revenge (1924). These films, inspired by Germanic mythology, not only anticipated the epic and tragic tone later seen in Metropolis (1927) and M (1931), but also reflected the social and political tensions looming over Germany on the eve of World War II. Lang portrayed an allegory of the downfall of heroes and inevitable revenge, set against a Europe heading towards conflict. The monumental staging, innovative special effects, and profound exploration of themes such as betrayal and fate make Die Nibelungen a key work of German Expressionism.

On the occasion of its centenary, both parts will be screened with live music, performed by maestro José María Ulla (original music and piano), with the collaboration of Duggan Bayerque Zuzulich, joined by the voices of Victoria Cicchitti and Paula San Martín. This unique sensory experience revives the titanic spirit of Lang’s work, allowing the audience to rediscover these classics in all their visual grandeur and powerful symbolic force.

A film from the collection of the Friedrich-Wilhelm-Murnau-Stiftung (www.murnau-stiftung.de).