Spreewald

A film by Sibylle Smolka | 2021 | arte | ZDF

The Spreewald in Eastern Germany with its unique water landscape, is home to the Sorbs, a Slavic people. Victims of persecution for a long time, they were not allowed to preserve their culture and traditions. Today the younger generation confidently embraces their Slavic roots. Young Sorbs think of themselves as modern, multi-lingual Europeans. They show us their culture and let us participate in their extraordinary traditions and festivals, which were added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2014. 

This magical water landscape is located about 70 kilometres south-east of Berlin. Ice age processes have shaped this unique natural landscape with its countless waterways and thick forest. It was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the 90s. 

The water still dictates the rhythm of life. Each farmhouse owns a small port and a small boat. In the past these boats were used to collect the harvest and take the kids to school. Still today, the boats are used for grocery and mail deliveries. A world untouched; from a different time; full of myths, sagas and old traditions.