Der starke Hans (2020)

Strong Hans is regarded in the village as an especially kind child who is always happy to lend a hand when someone needs help. When he sees Princess Sarah running into the forbidden forest with some other noble children, he follows her so he can help if necessary—for strange things sometimes happen there. The children play at having a wedding among the rocky cliffs in the forest, and young Duke Egbert claims that Princess Sarah is the only one of his rank and that she must marry him. But Sarah does not like the conceited boy and chooses Strong Hans. Just then, the Guardian of the Air Spirits appears and drives the children away because they have disturbed the peace of the forest. A few years later, Regent Friedhelm wants to arrange a marriage befitting her station for his ward, Princess Sarah, as he had promised her late parents. But Sarah enjoys her freedom and does not want to lose her position as an independent woman by marrying. She is currently having a mill built for the village at the edge of the enchanted forest, much to the displeasure of the Guardian of the Air Spirits. Hans has completed an apprenticeship with the village blacksmith and wants to set off on his travels, which pleases neither the villagers nor Sarah, since he is very popular. Before leaving, he brings an iron bed to the castle for Sarah, as he had promised her. Meanwhile, Duke Egbert turns out to be the prospective groom Regent Friedhelm has chosen for Princess Sarah, but Sarah rejects him as a husband once again, just as she did in childhood. The Guardian of the Air Spirits promises Duke Egbert that he can marry Princess Sarah if he takes the villagers to his realm and lets the village fall into ruin, so that the forest—and she too—can be left in peace. With the help of the Air Spirits, she makes the spring vital to the village dry up, so that Egbert can present himself as a shining savior in its hour of need. The villagers soon discover that the well has run dry and see the village’s downfall approaching. Sarah suspects that the spring in the enchanted forest is the cause and wants to find out what has happened. She sets off into the forest alone, since everyone is afraid of the Guardian of the Air Spirits. Hans has also arrived in the enchanted forest, having noticed that the water has dried up. He encounters the two forest spirits, Dreher and Klipperer, who tell him that Princess Sarah is also on her way to the spring. Worried about her, he follows her trail. Duke Egbert pressures Regent Friedhelm and the villagers to leave the castle and the village so he can carry out his bargain with the Guardian of the Air Spirits. At the same time, Princess Sarah comes upon the sorceress and learns that she is responsible for drying up the spring in order to protect her forest from people. Hans finds Sarah, and together they come up with a plan to trick Duke Egbert and the Guardian of the Air Spirits. He is to steal the magic cloak that gives its wearer power over the Air Spirits while she pretends to go along with their plan, thereby distracting them. But things do not go exactly as they planned, and Egbert and Sarah end up fighting. The Guardian of the Air Spirits is overwhelmed by the noise of the battle, and Strong Hans manages to pull the magic cloak off her. The spell is broken, and the spring begins to bubble again. Duke Egbert tries to flee, but the two forest spirits force him to play with them for as long as they want. Princess Sarah sends Hans to the village to announce the good news. In the end, she makes peace with the Guardian of the Forest and promises that people will learn to treat the forest with care, because otherwise everything will perish.