Parsifal

Hans-Jürgen Syberberg’s Parsifal film is a psychological interpretation of the opera mixing in references to the history of Germany, Wagner’s life, German literature and philosophy. The action is centered around Wagner’s death mask. Kundry (played by the German actress Edith Clever and sung by Yvonne Minton) is the main character – one might read the film as the story of her redemption rather than that of Amfortas. Made entirely in a studio (in 1981 and released in 1983), it is characterized by long takes, slowly moving camera that breaths with the music and varies between close-ups and long shots to emphasize the drama.