Der Rosenkonig / The Rose King (Werner Schroeter 1986)

Der Rosenkonig is a poetic, symbol laden drama set on a secluded rose farm in Portugal. The story centers on Anna, a middle aged woman who runs the farm, and her adult son Albert, whose life revolves around breeding roses. Albert's obsessive notions of beauty and love extend beyond his flowers to a handsome young man, Fernando. Unable to reconcile his intense desire, Albert abducts Fernando and holds him captive in a barn, feeding him roses. As the three lives intertwine, their relationships deteriorate into a tense, fatal love triangle marked by passion, ritualistic imagery, and growing psychological extremity. The film blends mythic and operatic elements with rich symbolism-especially the rose as a metaphor for love, obsession, and destruction-creating an enigmatic cinematic experience rather than a straightforward narrative.