The Princess and the Shepherd. A Fairytale [Films in Progress]

Lassnig’s parable film narrates her version of a classical European fairy tale, examining the gendered tropes thatpopulate them, in particular the cliche of sequestered damsels in distress awaiting male saviors. In voiceover, the artist introduces a lonely princess isolated in an opulent mountaintop castle. Lassnig describes her as “very proud and very beautiful,” but also as melancholy, “crying a lot out of capriciousness,” weeping so profusely that she collects her tears in a jar. The depressed princess dances aimlessly wearing a virginal or bridal white dress and flowered crown, which hints at the story’s marriage plot, the princess’s conundrum to choose among a series of suitors. Once the wave of suitors commence, Lassnig takes the opportunity to lampoon different male caricatures. (Jocelyn Miller, Maria Lassnig. Film Works/ Filmography [excerpt])


Rough cut by Maria Lassnig. Color correction and final cut completed posthumously in accordance with Lassnig’s original editing concept by Mara Mattuschka and Hans Werner Poschauko.
Soundtrack Johann Joseph Fux, Serenade in C major; Tomaso Albinoni, Adagio in G minor; Joseph Haydn, Concerto No. 1 for Flute, Oboe, and Orchestra in C major, Hob VIIh: 1

Digitization by the Austrian Film Museum. This film was preserved and restored by the Maria Lassnig Foundation in collaboration with the Austrian Film Museum.

Orig. Title
The Princess and the Shepherd. A Fairytale [Films in Progress]
Year
1976 - 1978
Country
unknown
Duration
13 min
Director
Maria Lassnig
Category
Avantgarde/Arts
Orig. Language
English
Downloads
The Princess and the Shepherd. A Fairytale (Image)
© Maria Lassnig Foundation / Courtesy sixpackfilm
The Princess and the Shepherd. A Fairytale (Image)
© Maria Lassnig Foundation / Courtesy sixpackfilm
The Princess and the Shepherd. A Fairytale (Image)
© Maria Lassnig Foundation / Courtesy sixpackfilm
Credits
Director
Maria Lassnig
Actor/Actress
Liesbeth Eberwein, Gerhard Lampersberg, Johanna Orsini, Markus Orsini-Rosenberg, Hannes Rossbacher, Winfried Wagner, Mechtild, Virgil Widrich, Theresa Widrich
Voice
Maria Lassnig
Available Formats
DCP 2K flat (Distribution Copy)
Sound Format
stereo
Color Format
colour
Digital File (prores, h264)