Paul Elliott’s review published on Letterboxd:
Berlin School auteur Christian Petzold adapts the centuries-old mythology of a water nymph (an Undine) as the source material for his latest film. It follows Paula Beer as the eponymous heroine working as a historian lecture on Berlin's urban landscapes changing development. Petzold excavates at the familiar narrative to present an original take on the material, creating a simple but haunting romance in common with the original myth than it's latter recitations.
Beer becomes reunited with Transit star Franz Rogowski, and any familiarity with European mythology provides a general notion on where the narrative may end up. Still, Petzold plays liberally with his themes and brings an ethereal quality to the film. Both Beer and Rogowski generate a sufficient magnetism level to their shared sequences, further highlighted by a dreamlike piano score and some rich-hued cinematography from Hans Fromm.
Petzold makes the most of the city's diverse topography and the captivating performances command attention in the slightest moments. He adopts mythology as a literal reference point for his film told for the most part from Undine's angle, and his film-making talent is impressive. This Berlin-set film has an unapologetic nostalgia for romantic cinema and feels like a beautiful enigma, just how a fairy tale should.