Siegfried and Hagen: A struggle for loyalty, power and humanity!

Siegfried and Hagen: A struggle for loyalty, power and humanity!

On March 23, 2025, the film "Hagen von Tronje - in the Valley of the Nibelungs" celebrates its premiere. The action fantasy strip, which is sold by Constantin Film, has a term of 138 minutes. The exciting action is about Siegfried, the famous dragon slower, who comes to Worms as a guest and ensures chaos in the court society. However, the focus of the story is not Siegfried, but the complex figure of the Hagen von Tronje.

Hagen is portrayed as a loyal follower and unshakable warrior, whose loyalty is put to the test at a turning point in history. He distrusts Siegfried, which leads to conflicts that finally result in a bitter struggle. The topics, love, loyalty and the decisions between mind and heart run through the narrative like a thread. Hagen is not only the focus as an opponent, but also as a person with profound longings.

the Nibelungen saga and its development

The story of Siegfried and Hagen is greatly rooted in the tradition of the Nibelungenlied. This epic poetry, which was created around 1200, connects the saga by Siegfried to the dragon slate with the fall of the Burgundian kingdom. While the Nibelungenlied mostly plays in a court-feudal environment, it also contains mythical elements that illuminate the character of the figures and their fates, such as the Nibelung treasure that is occupied with power and a curse.

The Nibelungenlied itself has been handed down orally over time and contains numerous variants that were created in different regions. Especially in the 13th century, the Nibelungen fabric experienced its literary breakthrough through an anonymous poet, probably from the Passau region. The best -known figures, including Siegfried, Brünhild and Hagen, have their roots in Germanic mythology and reflect both historical and legendary elements. These complex relationships and the conflict between Hagen's loyalty and his growing aversion to Siegfried are crucial for the narrative.

deviations from the Nibelungenlied

The new film dares to represent Hagen's figure more of a more differentiated manner than is the case in the Nibelungenlied. There Hagen is mainly described as a loyal vassal of Gunther and in the course of history as a murderer and opponent of Kriemhilds. In the film, however, central areas of the Nibelungenliedes are omitted to strengthen the concentration on Hagen. His human weaknesses and inner conflicts are in the foreground, so that the audience can understand his change from the loyal warrior to the deep conflict bearer.

The Nibelungen mythology, with its networked narrative strands and character nuances, experiences a new dimension through this cinematic adaptation. With the address of timeless topics and exploring human emotions, the story about Siegfried, Hagen and Kriemhild remains relevant and captivates both old and new spectators.