"The Curse of the Heathen Witch" In many societies, throughout history, witches and their alleged dark powers have been feared and despised. Often seen as outcasts and symbols of evil, witches have been blamed for causing misfortunes and disasters. This widespread fear and prejudice can be seen in the myth of the curse of the heathen witch. The curse of the heathen witch is a tale that has been passed down through generations in a small village nestled deep in the mountains. According to the legend, there was once a powerful witch who lived secluded from society. She was said to possess immense knowledge and control over nature, using her powers to manipulate the world around her.
to depict a very personal and empathetic mental image of a nightmarish
I found that in my research, elements of Hagazussa could be interpreted in a variety of different ways based upon your own knowledge of witchcraft, German folklore, women s roles in Germanic society and mental illness. The disc featuring a full-length commentary by critic Kat Ellinger, she offers insight into the realm of folk horror and Hagazussa s place within it, closer in style and intent to November than the frequent comparisons with The Witch , Robert Eggers more widely known work, while Feigelfeld s commentary is limited to specific key scenes but clarifies much of the ambiguity of his film, closing the circle as nature and madness overwhelm Albrun.
She was said to possess immense knowledge and control over nature, using her powers to manipulate the world around her. The villagers, unable to comprehend or accept her abilities, turned against her, branding her a heathen and cursing her name. They believed her to be responsible for their hardships and misfortunes, blaming her every time tragedy struck their community.
Hagazussa: A Heathen’s Curse
In a wooden hut deep in the Alps, Albrun and her mother hide themselves from the dark and from the other villagers; trudging through the snow and collecting sticks by day to feed their fire and warm their gruel, they are shunned, heathens. A woman alone with a child, she is called a witch, and nothing else matters.
Falling ill, her body examined unsympathetically, Albrun’s mother displays signs which could be cancer, could be plague, or could be the sign of the Devil upon her; left to care for her mother, when she dies, Albrun is alone with the clouds and the sky and the mountains and her goats, and the continuing hatred of the villagers.
The boys now calling her witch, the priest telling her that her path is paved with suffering and pain, Albrun’s only contact is with Swinda, seemingly her friend, but who will ultimately betray her, and embracing the charge laid upon her Albrun will avenge herself cruelly on Swinda and her husband and the other villagers regardless of the cost to herself.
The feature directorial debut of Lukas Feigelfeld which takes its name from the Old High German for witch, Hagazussa: A Heathen’s Curse has travelled as slowly as the creeping dread and despair from which it was birthed, premiered at Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas in September 2017 before touring the festival circuit and only now receiving official British release on Blu-ray courtesy of Arrow Films.
Set in the fifteenth century, it is built around fear and superstition, Albrun (Aleksandra Cwen) isolated and misunderstood, the dialogue sparse and the story told almost entirely through the images of flickering candlelight and decorated skulls, of twisted branches and gnarled roots, of carpets of moss infested with maggots, of the waters of the lake tainted and grown sickly, and the pacing is of elegiac imagery rather than urgency.
Offering no comfort or respite, the soundtrack by Grecian low-frequency doom duo MMMD is a drone of anguish which persists and permeates the decay and gloom as Albrun succumbs to what may have been her destiny all along, a single secret smile offered to the flame as she accepts and embraces the inevitability of the curse inherited from her mother (Claudia Martini).
The disc featuring a full-length commentary by critic Kat Ellinger, she offers insight into the realm of folk horror and Hagazussa’s place within it, closer in style and intent to November than the frequent comparisons with The Witch, Robert Eggers’ more widely known work, while Feigelfeld’s commentary is limited to specific key scenes but clarifies much of the ambiguity of his film, closing the circle as nature and madness overwhelm Albrun.
Also included is a deleted scene from near the end of the film, the only hint of redemption which was cut as being out of tone, two of Feigelfeld’s earlier (not so) short films, a masculine examination of loneliness in 2014’s Interferenz and 2011’s Beton as Feigelfeld himself stars as a youth causing trouble for himself and others in Vienna, an MMMD music video and their full soundtrack for Hagazussa on a second disc.
“Hagazussa” (an Old High German term for witch) grows more and more hallucinogenic, the climactic events rendered only more so by the seemingly spellbound heroine’s unwise consumption of a forest mushroom. If last year’s standout psychedelic genre piece “Mandy” was lysergic cinema par excellence, this equally trippy (if otherwise very different) quasi-horror revenge tale offers a nightmare soaked in psilocybin, its every element queasily organic.
This fear and animosity drove the witch further into seclusion, intensifying the villagers' belief in her malevolent powers. As the years went by, the village fell into a cycle of unending pain and suffering. Crops would wither, diseases would spread, and natural disasters would devastate the community. The villagers saw all these misfortunes as the direct result of the witch's curse. Desperate for relief, they sought help from travelers passing through their village, offering great rewards to anyone who could rid them of the curse. One day, a wise traveler arrived in the village. Recognizing the fear and ignorance that consumed the villagers, he decided to investigate the truth behind the curse. He sought out the witch and spoke with her, trying to understand her perspective. He discovered that the curse was not her doing, but rather a self-fulfilling prophecy linked to the villagers' hatred and fear. The traveler returned to the village and shared his findings with them. He implored them to let go of their prejudice and judgment, to see beyond their own fears and begin to accept the witch as a fellow human being. Slowly, the villagers started to question their beliefs and open their hearts to the possibility of reconciliation. Over time, as the villagers let go of their anger and began to see the witch as a person and not a demonic figure, the curse started to lift. The tragedies that had plagued the village gradually became less frequent, and a sense of harmony started to emerge. The curse of the heathen witch was broken not by some magical spell or enchantment, but by the power of understanding and acceptance. This tale serves as a reminder of the dangers of prejudice and the destructive nature of fear. By condemning and alienating those who are different from us, we perpetuate a cycle of animosity and suffering. The curse of the heathen witch ultimately highlights the importance of empathy and compassion in building a harmonious and inclusive society..
Reviews for "The Witch's Victims: Tragic Stories of Those Afflicted by the Curse"
1. Sarah - 2 stars - I found "The Curse of the Heathen Witch" to be extremely dull and predictable. The characters lacked depth and the storyline felt cliché. It failed to capture my attention from the beginning and I struggled to finish it. The writing style was also lackluster, making it difficult to connect with the narrative. Overall, I was disappointed and wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for an engaging and thought-provoking read.
2. John - 1 star - "The Curse of the Heathen Witch" was an absolute waste of time. The plot was poorly developed, leaving many loose ends and unresolved conflicts. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked any depth or complexity. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult to get invested in the story. Additionally, the pacing was incredibly slow, dragging out tedious scenes that added nothing to the overall narrative. I regret picking up this book and would advise others to steer clear of it.
3. Emily - 2 stars - I wanted to enjoy "The Curse of the Heathen Witch," but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The writing style seemed amateurish, with repetitive phrases and awkward sentence structures. The plot had potential, but it never fully explored the intriguing concept of the witch's curse. The characters were also forgettable, lacking strong motivations or believable actions. I was left feeling unsatisfied and uninterested in the outcome. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone seeking a captivating and well-executed story.
4. Mark - 2 stars - "The Curse of the Heathen Witch" had an interesting premise, but it failed to deliver a compelling story. The pacing was uneven, with long stretches of boredom followed by rushed and underdeveloped scenes. The writing lacked polish and finesse, often resorting to tired clichés and predictable plot twists. The dialogue felt stilted and unrealistic, making it difficult to connect with the characters. Overall, I found the book underwhelming and would advise others to look elsewhere for a more engaging read.