← Close ProjectKönigskinder

2nd act of “Königskinder” - Nationale Opera & Ballet
Henk Poort, Doris Soffel, Josef Wagner
Conducted by Marc Albrecht
2022



Königskinder
Teaser Trailer
DNO | Spektr
In Königskinder, terrorized by famine and disease the hunger-stricken townsfolk set out to blame the local minstrel and a hermit woman. This film is the second act in Dutch National Opera’s 2022 production ‘Königskinder’. 

Shooting in black and white opens up a lot of forgotten possibilities. Take note of all the shades of the costumes in this hard and unforgiving light.

The opera director called me for this film, a year or so after we shot Springtime. I was in Rome, amid the ruins of the baths of Caracalla. These are huge ancient structures that still echo the talk of business people and politicians from a lost world. Under the arches and domes we te talked about starvation, corrupt magistrates, scapegoats and wether we could get a real rat to bite the actress. I also wanted geese in the film but they were not available in time.

Possibly my favorite project to have worked on.

Last note, I insisted on shooting the title cards the old-fashioned way—using oversized prints, just like they would have done back then. Now with some more winters and ever expanding conciousness, I can admit that the difference to doing it digitally is negligable. 

Anyway.

NRC: “A treat for eye and ear.”
De Volkskrant: “Timeless and elegant.”