The Winter of Eternity

What's the meaning of life? How do I find my way? In his existential philosophy work CITADELLE, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry posthumously gives us uncomfortable answers.

  • Patrick Müller
    Director
  • Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
    Writer
  • Patrick Müller
    Producer
  • Valérie Hendrich
    Key Cast
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    L'hiver de l'éternité
  • Project Type:
    Experimental, Short
  • Runtime:
    8 minutes 10 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    December 19, 2022
  • Country of Origin:
    Germany
  • Country of Filming:
    Malta
  • Language:
    French
  • Shooting Format:
    Super 8
  • Aspect Ratio:
    4:3
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Museum Gunzenhauser
    Chemnitz
    Germany
    November 2, 2022
    Premiere
  • 6th Kalaburagi International Film Festival
    Gulbarga
    India
    February 25, 2023
    Indian Premiere
    Finalist
  • FISURA, Festival Internacional de Cine y Video Experimental
    Mexico City
    Mexico
    June 29, 2023
    Mexican Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Denver Underground Film Festival
    Denver
    United States
    November 13, 2023
    Official Selection
  • Jugend musiziert (JUMU OPEN)
    Berlin
    Germany
    February 3, 2023
  • Revelation - Perth International Film Festival
    Perth
    Australia
    July 15, 2023
    Australian Premiere
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Patrick Müller

Patrick Müller, born in 1981 in Frankenberg, GDR, works mainly with analog, photochemical film on Super 8 and 16mm, seeking to explore poetry within moving images. His experimental works have screened at numerous film festivals around the world, including CHICAGO UNDERGROUND FILM FESTIVAL, THE8FEST, FANTAFESTIVAL and TOUS COURTS. He also writes regularly for the German print magazine 35 MILLIMETER and podcasts about film.

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Director Statement

A few years ago I visited the citadel on the island of Gozo and immediately remembered Antoine de St. Exupéry's posthumously published existential philosophy work CITADELLE. I had read the text fifteen years ago and, because of its radical nature and mysterious beauty, I never forgot one passage in particular that dealt with the meaning of life. I took my Super 8 camera and filmed my associations. The soundtrack finally succeeded in 2022: Valérie Hendrich spoke the text and four young musicians based in Chemnitz, Germany, composed the music (In 2023 they even won the first prize at "Jugend musiziert" festival in Berlin for their score). The film is available as French language DCP with optional German, English, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese subtitles.