For centuries, the mythical figure of Heracles has been a symbol of immense strength, divine mission and the challenges of human existence. His twelve heroic deeds are world-famous – including the slaying of the Nemean Lion, the slaying of the Lernaean Hydra and the cleansing of the Augean stables. But beyond the heroic saga, his image remains fragmentary, changeable and elusive. HERAKLES CAVE sets out on a quest to find the ancient hero and his legacy in the modern world. Director Lutz Dammbeck follows the remnants of the myth, asks questions of those who have dealt with it, and reconstructs a new perspective on the figure from fragments of history. The film combines historical, philosophical and artistic approaches to reveal the deeper meaning of Heracles' legacy. Dammbeck uses a variety of visual techniques and archive material in his cinematic narrative to reflect the timeless fascination of Heracles in art, culture and ideology. What images have been created over the centuries, and how have they changed throughout history? How is the ancient hero instrumentalized, deconstructed or reinterpreted today? The film not only focuses on the myth, but also questions the mechanisms of historical interpretation and image production. HERAKLES' CAVE fits into Lutz Dammbeck's oeuvre, which often deals with myths, the history of ideology and media staging. With its characteristic blend of documentary approach, experimental montage and philosophical reflection, the film invites us to question the power of images and narratives in human culture. A work that links the past with the present and sheds new light on the myth of Heracles.
Icons & Media Art
44min
12
DE
The story of Hercules is well-known: son of Zeus and Alcmene, hero and god, famous for his twelve labours.
For centuries, the mythical figure of Heracles has been a symbol of immense strength, divine mission and the challenges of human existence. His twelve heroic deeds are world-famous – including the slaying of the Nemean Lion, the slaying of the Lernaean Hydra and the cleansing of the Augean stables. But beyond the heroic saga, his image remains fragmentary, changeable and elusive.
HERAKLES CAVE sets out on a quest to find the ancient hero and his legacy in the modern world. Director Lutz Dammbeck follows the remnants of the myth, asks questions of those who have dealt with it, and reconstructs a new perspective on the figure from fragments of history. The film combines historical, philosophical and artistic approaches to reveal the deeper meaning of Heracles' legacy.
Dammbeck uses a variety of visual techniques and archive material in his cinematic narrative to reflect the timeless fascination of Heracles in art, culture and ideology. What images have been created over the centuries, and how have they changed throughout history? How is the ancient hero instrumentalized, deconstructed or reinterpreted today? The film not only focuses on the myth, but also questions the mechanisms of historical interpretation and image production.
HERAKLES' CAVE fits into Lutz Dammbeck's oeuvre, which often deals with myths, the history of ideology and media staging. With its characteristic blend of documentary approach, experimental montage and philosophical reflection, the film invites us to question the power of images and narratives in human culture. A work that links the past with the present and sheds new light on the myth of Heracles.