Film tip: FLUSS - A visually stunning journey along the Elbe. From 11.06. in the cinema

Human influence on the Elbe

For skippers, the Elbe is an area full of contrasts that requires navigational skills between tidal currents, mighty barrages and commercial shipping. The documentary now traces the route from its source in the Giant Mountains to the North Sea in a new cinematic form. The director does not want to show the river as an unspoilt natural idyll, but as an area that has been shaped by man for centuries.

Technology instead of city panorama

The camera deliberately moves away from the familiar city panoramas of Hamburg or Dresden and instead looks at the functional architecture and technical infrastructure away from the metropolises. The film portrays the 28 barrages and huge ship lifts as witnesses to human planning and documents processes such as sand extraction or the expansion of the navigation channel.

Filmic voyage of discovery across the Elbe

This visual exploration in widescreen format is supported by a jazz soundtrack by pianist Vladyslav Sendecki. This symbiosis aims to create an atmosphere that encourages reflection on the relationship between man and river. As the final part of the "CITY, COUNTRY, RIVER" trilogy, the film offers the opportunity to rediscover the Elbe beyond the nautical chart.

• Cinema release: 11 June
• TV broadcast: 13 October in the NDR & ARD media centre

Find out more about the film, director and dates here.