The legend from another perspective
Hagen serves King Gunter while trying to reconcile loyalty with private feelings. His concealed love for Kriemhild becomes more difficult when Siegfried appears. Cyrill Boss and Philipp Stennert therefore do not make the radiant hero the uncomplicated centre of the legend.
That gives Hagen an interesting position. Duty, desire and political obligations pull him in different directions. Those conflicts provide a more convincing foundation than a simple promise of large-scale fantasy action.
A strong Hagen, uneven counterparts
Gijs Naber gives Hagen weight and complexity. His internal strain can be understood without constant explanation. Dominic Marcus Singer’s Gunter and Lilja van der Zwaag’s Kriemhild contribute to the web of relationships, while Rosalinde Mynster adds force as Brunhild.
Jannis Niewöhner’s Siegfried is less convincing to me. His very modern manner does not always fit this world’s tone. The romantic relationships also struggle to achieve the impact needed to sustain the emotional conflicts.
Stronger later than at the start
The Icelandic landscapes give the film scale and a harsh, sombre atmosphere. Visually, there is much to appreciate. The first half nevertheless moves too slowly. Viewers expecting a substantial on-screen action sequence from Siegfried’s dragon fight will find a conspicuous absence there.
The second half gives the characters and their political entanglements more weight. The story gains momentum and begins to develop the tragic force that previously struggled to emerge from its cumbersome introduction.
Verdict
Hagen is a solid but uneven reinterpretation. Naber and the landscapes are clear strengths; the pacing, romance and treatment of Siegfried work less well. Its improved second half demonstrates the potential of this perspective, without entirely overcoming the sluggish opening.