Das Märchen von der Regentrude (2018)

People are suffering from extreme heat and drought. Everyone wishes the great drought would finally come to an end. Maren dreams not only of a great rain, but also of being allowed to marry Andrees, whom she loves with all her heart. But her father, Iven, the wealthy farmer, will not allow her to marry Stine’s impoverished son. Iven is a level-headed man who does not believe in the tale of the Rain Sprite, who, according to the other villagers, brings the rain. Maren sees a chance to marry her Andrees after all, and bets her father that he will agree to their marriage if it starts raining before the next sunset. Long ago, one of Stine’s female ancestors once awakened the Rain Sprite after she had fallen asleep. But the little rhyme needed to do so, as well as the way to reach her, have since been forgotten. Andrees can learn both from the Fire Man. Maren and Andrees set out to wake the Rain Sprite from her sleep and thereby put an end to the Fire Man’s rule and his destructive heat. On their journey, the two are repeatedly hindered by the Fire Man’s spells. At some point, they come across the ferryman, who is out of work because the river he used to ferry travelers across has dried up, and his boat is broken as well. Andrees stays behind to repair the boat with the ferryman, so that Maren can cross the river on her way back once she has awakened the Rain Sprite and the river has returned. After a while, Maren encounters a little elf who leads her to the Rain Sprite’s garden after Maren solves a riddle the elf sets for her. Once the Rain Sprite has been awakened, she goes with Maren to a well, and when it is unlocked, it finally begins to rain. Maren and Andrees travel home and get married.