Die Nibelungen 2: Kriemhild's Revenge

Synopsis

After the murder of Siegfried, Kriemhild abandons grief for an uncompromising pursuit of vengeance. She enters a foreign royal court and patiently orchestrates retribution against those responsible for betrayal. Ceremonial order gradually gives way to suspicion, violence, and collective destruction within a world governed by rigid codes of loyalty and pride.

Critique

In the second part of Die Nibelungen, Fritz Lang shifts from heroic myth toward apocalyptic tragedy. The controlled visual compositions and monumental staging intensify the sense of fatal inevitability, while Kriemhild becomes a figure of obsessive determination rather than sentimental mourning. The film transforms revenge into a force that consumes entire societies, revealing the destructive consequences of honor elevated above humanity.

Technical sheet

Director

Fritz Lang

Original title

Die Nibelungen: Kriemhilds Rache

Year

1924

Country

Germany

Running time

129 min

Genre

Adventure, Drama, Fantasy

Written by

Thea von Harbou

Cinematography

Günther Rittau, Carl Hoffmann

Cast

Margarete Schön, Gertrud Arnold, Theodor Loos, Hans Carl Mueller, Erwin Biswanger, Bernhard Goetzke

Production

UFA, Decla-Bioscop

Music

Newly composed original score

Licensing