Erlkönig - Du liebes Kind, komm, geh mit mir!
(Hélène de Cartier latest film)
First published in 1782, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's ballad "Erlkönig" remains one of the most enduring works of German literature.
For centuries German children have learned its haunting verses by heart.
This film is one of many interpretations.
Under the moonlight, a father rows his ailing son across a black lake.
Suspended between the living and the dead, the boy slips into fevered visions.
A supernatural being, the Elf-King, emerges from the shadows of his mind seducing him toward death.
Shot on black-and-white film, this silent, dreamlike meditation weaves tenderness with dread.
It explores the fragile line between protection and powerlessness.
FILMOGRAPHY
Hélène de Cartier
Hélène de Cartier has developed a diverse body of audiovisual work, ranging from intimate self-expressive pieces to collaborative projects and commissioned films and photography. Her practice explores the poetic and the personal, often blurring the line between documentary and fiction. Whether working independently or in partnership with other artists, her films reflect a sensitivity to mood, atmosphere, and the emotional resonance of image and sound.
