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DRAGON SLAYERS
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Documentary film (65 min)
by Petrus van der Let, 2009
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Portraits of dragon slayers are cross-cultural phenomena that appear in a
wide range of religious contexts, from the ancient Indian Rigveda to the sacred
book of the Maya. The ancient Roman Mithraic cult is the most important
predecessor religion of Christianity and, according to the latest research, 2000
years older: Child-god Mithras slays a dragon, sacrifices himself in the shape
of a bull and ascends to heaven with his father Sol (sun). In psychological
terms, the story represents the infant’s transition from the nursing mother to
the language-dominated world of the father. The self-sacrifice of Jesus is also
followed by his ascension to his father’s side. The Mater Dolorosa and forlorn
women are left behind.
After “Gods with Pointed Caps”, “Punch and Prophecy”, and “Journey to the
Cradle of Europe”, “Dragon Slayers” is the fourth part of a mini series on the
origin of myths and religions in infant perception. Film locations: Austria,
Germany, Slovenia, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Guatemala.
- Length: 65 min., 45 min. versions
- Format: HDV, Beta Digital, 16:9, Pal, stereo; version with English
subtitles;
- Director: Petrus van der Let
- Camera: Benjamin Epp, Hartmut Schulz, Walter Wehmeyer
- Editing: Benjamin Epp
- Music: Georg Albert, Christina Baader, Erik Satie, Peter Uwira
- Production: A co-production of Petrus van der Let Film and
Filmproduktion Benjamin Epp, Magda Wimmer, Artia Nova Film, Uj Budapest
Filmstudio, DUNA-TV, H, PLANET-TV, BRalpha, D, SKANDINAVIA-TV, DK, Film Promotion
Fund of the Provinces of Lower Austria and Styria.
- Festivals: MEDIMED Sitges Spain 09: Nominated for the Ahmed Attia's
Award for the Dialogue of Cultures; Festival Internazionale del Film Archeologico
di Rovereto, Italy (October 2009);
11th International Archeological Filmfestival Belgrade (March 2010);
8th AGON Archaeological Film Festival (Athens, May 11-16th 2010).
- ARCHEOLOGIAVIVA.TV (italian version): www.sperimentarea.tv archeologiaviva.tv
- Trailer: www.youtube.com/user/AlibriVerlag
- Interviews and off-narration: Where the Gods come from (PDF)
Books to the film:
- Harald Strohm Mithra
Oder: Warum "Gott Vertrag" beim Aufgang der Sonne in Wehmut zurückblickte,
Munich 2008;
- Über den Ursprung der Religion – Oder: Warum Indra mit dem Dreirad
zur Hochzeit fuhr, Munich 2003;
- Petrus van der Let Zipfelmützengötter – Religion als Echo der
Kindheit, Aschaffenburg 2004
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