The Boat Builder

A mysterious boat builder narrates how he got his name. This is quite different to what one might assume, as the name does not come from his profession, but from his garden…


At the heart of his narrative is a fantastic story of the life of an upright man. As an orphaned youth he sets out to accept his inheritance: a dilapidated house by the lake with a completely wild garden. Full of hope he sets to work cultivating the garden, and in the process makes a unique discovery. In the furthest corner of the garden he finds a curious plant, with something slowly crystallizing from its stem. He guards this secret, which will bring him prosperity and happiness. But his discovery turns from a blessing to a curse.


A friendly character marked by life, someone who might come from our childhood memories, tells his story against the backdrop of rampant gardens and the harsh lake environment. We discover a fantastic hero, who embraces his fate and is not spared life's ups and downs. A beautiful, melancholy story about becoming and passing away for adults and thoughtful children, with cover photograph by Klaus Reichert.