Neu in den Kinos und schon zum Scheitern verdammt zu sein scheint der von der FBW Filmbewertung mit dem Prädikat "wertvoll" ausgezeichnete Film "Mara und der Feuerbringer". Tommy Krappweis, Erfinder der Kultfigur "Bernd das Brot", der auch schon die Bücher der Mara - Trilogie verfasste, führte Regie. Der Film wurde unter anderem durch den bekannten Altgermanisten, Skandinavisten und Philologen Prof. Dr. Rudolph Simek, Verfasser zahlreicher Standardwerke zur nordischen Mythologie, beraten und liebevoll und jugendgerecht umgesetzt. Im Film werden wichtige Fragen der jugendlichen Entwicklung aufgegriffen und in den Kontext der skandinavischen Mythologie gesetzt: Die Protagonistin, Mara Lorbeer, die in der Schule bislang das Leben einer Außenseiterin führte, entdeckt eines Tages, dass sie eine Spákóna, eine Seherin in der nordischen Tradition ist. Nur sie allein kann die Welt retten, die vom Untergang und dem "Endschicksal der Götter", dem Ragnarök, bedroht wird. Unterstützt wird sie dabei von einem Skandinavistik - Professor, der einige Überraschungen erlebt, aber auch zu bieten hat. Der Film stellt neben vielen anderen Aspekten eine Tour de Force durch die Welt der nordischen Mythologie dar, bietet jedoch auch eine ganz entscheidende Kritik an dem Umgang mit dem Thema vor und während der Zeit des Dritten Reichs. Die Figur des Loge, die den Widersacher der jungen Seherin darstellt, thematisiert die pathologische Verfremdung der alten Mythen während dieser Zeit.
Der Film stellt eine kurzweilige und wertvolle Unterhaltung, nicht nur für Kinder und Jugendliche, sondern gerade auch für gebildete Erwachsene dar, und bietet kulturelle Aufarbeitung mit wohldosierter Action auf hohem Niveau. Die deutsche Produktion mit namhaften Größen wie Esther Schweins und Christoph Maria Herbst (Stromberg) wurde durch eine namhafte TV- und Kinoproduktionsgesellschaft produziert. Jedoch steht zu befürchten, dass der Film aufgrund mangelnder Werbung wieder in der Versenkung verschwindet. In sozialen Netzwerken wird daher zu bewußtem Engagement für diese deutsche Produktion aufgerufen. So ist bereits eine regelrechte Bewegung entstanden, die sich aus Museumsdarstellern, Germanisten, Skandinavisten und anderen Geisteswissenschaftlern zusammensetzt. Diese Bewegung setzt sich neben dem Einsatz für einen sehenswerten Film auch und besonders für die unverkrampfte Auseinandersetzung mit wichtigen nordeuropäischen Mythen ein. Denn gerade in einem geprüften Europa ist diese Auseinandersetzung mehr als wichtig: Nur wer weiß, wo er herkommt, kann gemeinsam mit anderen auch die Herausforderungen der Zeitgeschichte nachhaltig meistern.
Es bleibt also nur ein Aufruf: Besucht diesen sehenswerten und wertvollen Film mit Eurer Familie oder allein und handelt damit in mehrfachem Sinne positiv für die Förderung deutscher Kultur in einem europäischen Zusammenhang. Wenn Ihr ihn gut findet, sprecht darüber. Teilt ihn auf facebook und twitter, schickt ihn an alle Eure Freunde. Macht ein Event draus, geht in Gewandung in den Film oder mit Holzfällerhemd, Chucks und T-Shirt, wie Mara es tun würde. Und zeigt so den Mobbing Kids "eine WIRKLICHE Schlange" (Zitat aus Mara... neugierig?;-))
Hier gibts ein Interview mit Tommy Krappweis, der sich für sein Baby den Arsch bis zur Erschöpfung aufreisst.
So, now to a little insight for my English readers. You might have wondered why it is that you read on Fimbulmyrk about yet another fantasy film. "Mara und der Feuerbringer", a motion picture directed by German film director Tommy Krappweis, who by coincidence is also author of the fantasy novel trilogy, however is more than just another fantasy movie.
It is a spellbinding story about some things those of us who are old might remember still - it is about growing up and not giving up on your dreams in the process. It is about a little girl, Mara Lorbeer, being mobbed at school, and having a hard life - with a mother who is on something of an esoteric rampage, a frantic quest for sense in a world deprived of all magic and being beaten up at school by the bully kids. In this situation she learns that she is actually a spákóna, a seeress in the Old Norse tradition. The film, by the way, was counselled by the famed Austrian philologist Prof. Dr. Rudolph Simek, author of many benchmark works concerning Old Norse mythology and philology. If you know Prof. Dr. Simek and you learn that Mara gets a much - needed support by "the professor", you might even discover some similarities. For Mara desperately is in need of support: She is the only one capable of saving the world from the "Ragnarök", the final fate of the Gods. In a most eloquent way the ultimate enemy is introduced: Loge, who shares many, many characteristics with the fire Jotun (giant) Surtr, who storms the Asgardian realm with his flaming sword on the day of doom. But Loge is made of a different stuff. He gets his power by the neglection of Nordic myth and the hysterical and pathological way Nazi Germany adapted the tales of the Gods in the time of the Third Reich and before. Being the mythological personification of the Loge of Wagnerian provenience, Loge seems to be larger than life, and at the first look it seems next to impossible that a little girl could manage to even face this almighty and powerful God who is even capable of kidnapping the wife of the great deceiver of Norse mythology, Loki, himself. But both Loge and the spectators are in for a surprise. The professor and Mara both learn from each other, thusly making the perfect match for the adventure. This to me is a message that has certainly enriched my life: That the virile creativity and the academical view can work hand in hand to cope with the overly strong and Evil force that threatens the world.
I have watched the film. It is well suited for Youth and children, but you can truly appreciate it if you have some insight into the Norse mythology. And here it is where the story enters into real life.
For Tommy Krappweis produced the film for a huge TV and cinema production corporation. The motion picture was considered with the official predicate of being a valuable one for kids and adults alike. But fact is, there is next to no advertising for this movie by the corporation. The film is no supported and Tommy himself advertises it via facebook and twitter in hope of being able to fund the second part of the movie.
To me personally there is a very acrid stench of fish around the whole process, one that I know all too well from my time of studying Old Norse literature, the stench of outright sabotage, ignorance and neglect. When studying, we were always faced with the accusation of being Fascist or Nazi just because we wanted the outright opposite - learning about the truth of Norse mythology to get rid of the ridiculous endeavours of Nazi Germany. Or plain ignorance, neglect and derision. In order to fight for our country, to regain a healthy national identity we strove to look through the nationalistic pamphlets, through the sneer and sniggering of materialists and the almighty businessmen. We were fighters then, we are fighters now.
And here comes the beauty of it all: Philologists and reenactors, philosophers and students, kids and adults alike have formed a friendly and peaceful community to support this modern-day myth. A genuine myth, for its is the mythological personification of one of the biggest fights of our time: The fight of the dream against the egomaniac times, the fight of the heart against hate and greed, and the fight of our nation for a healthy identity. For only if you really know who you are you can truly welcome guests or fight enemies within, as our time demands from us all. Mara fights our fight, and she has become a symbol for this fight, and I sincerely wish that creativity and science will form a shield wall against the force of Evil - that dwells in ourselves.
Watch the movie. It´s not a heebie-jeebie action fancy where things go kaboom every second. It is sincere, and unpretentious, funny, serious, and atmospheric. It is a children´s film for adults, and adult film for children. It´s about fighting dragons, heroes, swords, friendship, love and freeing Gods.
But be warned: The "Vikings" series might make you throw up afterwards:-D.
And here´s a poem I wrote long ago (and was inspired by the hélstáfnar runes on the rune inscription of Rök, Sweden: "Sibbe veahvari ól niraethr", but seems to strangely fit now:
Vaivarar Kríg
Hrafnar thrjá floginn yfir hafinns,
Hrafnar thrja,
Inn fyrsta fló,
Hann fló till Útgards,
Annar fló,
Hann fló till Midgards,
Inn thridi fló,
Hann fló till Asgards.
Hveistu hvé hrafnar sagum?
Hveistu hvé rúnar ratinn?
Hveistu hvé sóa ok hvé rista skál?
Vart sverdtíd, vart blóttid,
Vart vaevarar kríg,
Vid mannligan vapnóm vi gangan till strids:
Vid sverdi ok skeggi ok gándr av ýr,
Vid fyfir fárbauti ok gándr av ýr,
Vid iarnarbrótt iarnt ok gándr av ýr,
Vid galdinn ok seidinn ok gándr av ýr,
Vid rúnor ok sógur ak gándr av ýr-
Vi kempan att vinna ok vinnan it lands.
The war of the guardians of the sacred
Raven three flew over the sea,
Raven three.
The first flew, he flew to Útgard,
The other flew, he flew to Midgard,
The third one flew, he flew to Asgard.
Do you know what the ravens say?
Do you know what the runes council?
Do you know how to sacrifice and how to write?
It is sword - time, it is time to sacrifice,
The war of the Vaivari (sentinels of the sacred) has come,
With gleaming weapons we face combat:
With sword and axe and a staff of yew,
With the arrow´s giant and a staff of yew,
With shards of broken iron and a staff of yew,
With sorcery and witchcraft and a staff of yew,
With runes and tales and a staff of yew,
We will fight to win and claim this land.
Please take note: This is in no way an academical way of treating the topic. Actually, we read the phrase "Sibbe uuai uaari" as "Sibbe of Vé" nowadays, and my teacher, Prof. Dr. Else Ebel would whack the shit out of me, but hey, it´s poetry. It is fantasy. I have also messed up the writing, for I can´t find the types for the "dh" and "th" sounds. But I guess the point´s made nonetheless. To my English - speaking readers: There´s something you can do: Inquire about the movie in English. Tell your friends about it. Share it on facebook and twitter and social networks. And "show the bullies a real snake" (quote from Mara).
So, Tommy, if you read this: Take care, and rest assured that you are not alone.
And here´s a poem I wrote long ago (and was inspired by the hélstáfnar runes on the rune inscription of Rök, Sweden: "Sibbe veahvari ól niraethr", but seems to strangely fit now:
Vaivarar Kríg
Hrafnar thrjá floginn yfir hafinns,
Hrafnar thrja,
Inn fyrsta fló,
Hann fló till Útgards,
Annar fló,
Hann fló till Midgards,
Inn thridi fló,
Hann fló till Asgards.
Hveistu hvé hrafnar sagum?
Hveistu hvé rúnar ratinn?
Hveistu hvé sóa ok hvé rista skál?
Vart sverdtíd, vart blóttid,
Vart vaevarar kríg,
Vid mannligan vapnóm vi gangan till strids:
Vid sverdi ok skeggi ok gándr av ýr,
Vid fyfir fárbauti ok gándr av ýr,
Vid iarnarbrótt iarnt ok gándr av ýr,
Vid galdinn ok seidinn ok gándr av ýr,
Vid rúnor ok sógur ak gándr av ýr-
Vi kempan att vinna ok vinnan it lands.
The war of the guardians of the sacred
Raven three flew over the sea,
Raven three.
The first flew, he flew to Útgard,
The other flew, he flew to Midgard,
The third one flew, he flew to Asgard.
Do you know what the ravens say?
Do you know what the runes council?
Do you know how to sacrifice and how to write?
It is sword - time, it is time to sacrifice,
The war of the Vaivari (sentinels of the sacred) has come,
With gleaming weapons we face combat:
With sword and axe and a staff of yew,
With the arrow´s giant and a staff of yew,
With shards of broken iron and a staff of yew,
With sorcery and witchcraft and a staff of yew,
With runes and tales and a staff of yew,
We will fight to win and claim this land.
Please take note: This is in no way an academical way of treating the topic. Actually, we read the phrase "Sibbe uuai uaari" as "Sibbe of Vé" nowadays, and my teacher, Prof. Dr. Else Ebel would whack the shit out of me, but hey, it´s poetry. It is fantasy. I have also messed up the writing, for I can´t find the types for the "dh" and "th" sounds. But I guess the point´s made nonetheless. To my English - speaking readers: There´s something you can do: Inquire about the movie in English. Tell your friends about it. Share it on facebook and twitter and social networks. And "show the bullies a real snake" (quote from Mara).
So, Tommy, if you read this: Take care, and rest assured that you are not alone.
