Krabat
In the seventeenth century, a 14-year-old orphan named Krabat flees the horrors of the Thirty Years War by becoming an apprentice to the ominous master of a mysterious mill. One of 12 young men working for the miller, Krabat is not only taught the craft of milling but is also initiated into a sinister world of dark arts. When the life of his friend and protector becomes threatened, Krabat must struggle to free himself from an evil sorcerer’s control in a gripping fight for freedom, friendship and love.
The Thirty Years´ War has brought much death and destruction to central Europe, and has left 14-year-old Krabat an orphan. Lost and devastated, Krabat’s keen survival instincts lead him to a remote valley, where he finds a mysterious mill run by an ominous figure known as the Master. The lure of safe haven, hot meals and an apprenticeship under the Master is hard to resist... But gradually Krabat uncovers a horrifying secret: the mill is in fact a school of black magic and the Master is in league with satanic powers. While Krabat and his young colleagues revel in the teachings of the Master, they realize there is a price to pay: complete submission to the Master and even death. After Krabat witnesses Tonda, his closest friend at the Mill, perish at the Master’s hands, the fire of rebellion starts raging within the young boy. He realizes that the only way out is to defeat the Master in a duel. In the face of such adversity, Krabat is able to find strength through the lovely Kantorka. Armed with nothing but courage and their united love, together the young couple brave the Master and the arsenal of magical powers that make him nearly invincible. But can the power of love alone be enough to eradicate the power of black magic?
KRABAT is a dark yet uplifting fantasy based on Otfried Preussler´s novel of the same name, a best-seller that has sold over 1.8 million copies worldwide and translated into more than 30 languages. A soul-stirring adventure for all ages, "Krabat" seizes the viewer with its atmospheric power and emotional truthfulness. KRABAT is directed by Marco Kreuzpaintner (Summer Storm), and stars Daniel Brühl (Good Bye, Lenin!, The Bourne Ultimatum, The Edukators), Christian Redl (Downfall, St. Pauli Nacht), and introduces David Kross as Krabat.
Director Marco Kreuzpaintner :
Getting to adapt KRABAT for the large screen has been a dream come true. It is a dark yet universal story, calling for powerful visual images. It is a profound and, at the same time, entertaining story. It’s rare for filmmakers like myself to come across such rich source material that is also a classic with a huge fan base. KRABAT is also a parable about fascism, about the temptation and seduction of power, about exerting ones powers without taking the ramifications into consideration. The story is, in my opinion, as relevant as ever.
Marco Kreuzpaintner
Getting to adapt KRABAT for the large screen has been a dream come true. It is a dark yet universal story, calling for powerful visual images. It is a profound and, at the same time, entertaining story. It’s rare for filmmakers like myself to come across such rich source material that is also a classic with a huge fan base. KRABAT is also a parable about fascism, about the temptation and seduction of power, about exerting ones powers without taking the ramifications into consideration. The story is, in my opinion, as relevant as ever.
Marco Kreuzpaintner
Jul 25th 2010