The Death of Empedocles
1987 · Movie · 132 min. · Germany - West Germany (FRG)
German romantic playwright Friedrich Hölderlin's unfinished play Empedokles tells the story of the titular Greek philosopher and poet's exile and death by casting himself into an active volcano. Straub and Huillet stage the action of the film in rural Sicily, placing the actors in contrast with their lush surroundings. Filmed with the camera in almost complete stasis, the film emphasizes the beauty and poetics of Hölderlin's verse. Der Tod Des Empedokles finds the filmmaking couple exploring the possibilities of the natural and unnatural performing in unison onscreen.
Direction Danièle Huillet · Jean-Marie Straub
Cast Andreas von Rauch · Vladimir Baratta · Martina Baratta · Ute Cremer · Howard Vernon · William Berger · Federico Hecker · Peter Boom · Giorgio Baratta · Manfred Esser · Georg Bintrup · Achille Brunini · Peter Kammerer
Screenplay Danièle Huillet · Jean-Marie Straub · Dietrich E. Sattler · Friedrich Hölderlin
Cinematography Renato Berta · Jean-Paul Toraille · Giovanni Canfarelli Modica
Original title Der Tod des Empedokles oder Wenn dann der Erde Grün von neuem Euch erglänzt
7.5
78 votes (FilmAffinity)
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