Ludwig II : the life and death of the fairy-tale king / produced and directed by Ray Müller ; produced by Utopia Film Münsing ; in coproduction with ZDF and ARTE.

Halle, Saxony-Anhalt : Monarda Arts, 2004.

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Whoever thinks about Bavaria's King Ludwig II can't help but thinking about castles, mountains, lakes and unending panoramic views. Castle Neuschwanstein with its sublime towers and the resplendent lawns of Castle Herrenchiemsee come to mind first. As the constructor of these facinating and magnificent castles, King Ludwig II goes down in history as the Fairytale King. On the night of June 13, 1886 the body of the Monarch was found in Lake Starnberg. Even today the circumstances of his death are unexplained. In the lavishly filmed-on-location scenes, this gripping film portrays the tragic end of the Bavarian King. We meet his cousin, Sissi, and observe how his grandiose buildings originated. At the same time we learn about the dark shadow side of his life. We see his secret letters, are witness to his reclusivess, and accompany him into the hell of his insanity. The viewer is also witness to a police investigation. The producer, Ray Müller, and the director, Matthias Unterburg, reconstruct the glamorous as well as tragic life of the Fairytale King and investigate the mysterious conditions of his death. Underscored with music from Wagner's Lohengrin, the film provides not only insight into the life and psyche of Ludwig II, but viewers are also taken on time journey back into the legendary world of the Fairytale King.

Images / Online / Video & Film

English

February 28, 2022

Jon Goldworthy (Ludwig II) ; narration, David Kehoe, David Creedon.