Berlinale 75: "Dreams" is sure to be controversial

by Elia Giudici 

After the Emilia Pérez affair, Dreams by the Mexican director Michel Franco presents a portrait of the Mexican population that is sure to spark intense debate. Even as the audience left the theater, groups of journalists were already engaged in animated discussions among themselves. This is because, at the film's conclusion, Franco makes a bold choice that inevitably compels one to take a firm stance. His hand, clearly visible, is that of the director of Nuevo Orden, a filmmaker who, when confronted with violence and cruelty reaching almost unbearable heights, approaches them with the cold detachment of a surgeon...

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Berlinale 75: “Das Licht” makes for an Overstuffed Opening

by Elisa Giudici

After two hours and forty minutes, Das Licht's conclusion delivers a devastating blow, undoing much of what had been carefully built up. It's like a long, enjoyable flight that ends in a disastrous crash landing—an impact so severe that it forces a reassessment of the entire journey. 

Tom Tykwer's latest work, chosen to open the 75th Berlinale, is ambitious and multilayered, yet excessive in its attempt to tackle everything—and its opposite—within a Berlin inhabited by both genuine victims and impostors who thrive on victimhood. Despite its considerable runtime, the film fails to develop any of its many narrative threads in a fully satisfying way...

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Berlinale #4: Reinate Rensve conquers Berlin

by Elisa Giudici

A DIFFERENT MAN © Faces Off LLC

Watching her in Norway's international hit The Worst Person in the World (2021), it was clear that Renate Reinsve was destined for great things. Three years later, we find her at the Berlinale starring in two international films and shining brightly in both. Is it finally becoming easier for non-native English-speaking actors to break through internationally? It certainly seems so!

A DIFFERENT MAN by Aaron Schimberg
The title is cleverly crafted and the film has the potential to go far internationally. Writer/director Aaron Schimberg tackles a Lynchian theme (a man's facial deformity reflecting his inner self), and adds a touch of Kafka in a contemporary key. Despite the influences and references, he makes it entirely his own...

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Berlinale Prize Winners: Claire Denis, Carla Simón, and Isabelle Huppert

by Nathaniel R

The annual Berlinale proved to be yet another excellent film festival for female filmmakers. France's legendary auteur Claire Denis (Beau Travail, White Material, 35 Shots of Run) took Best Director for her latest Both Sides of the Blade (pictured above) which stars two incredible French titans of acting, Vincent Lindon and Juliette Binoche. This is Denis' very first prize at one of the Big Three European festivals if you can believe it. The top prize of the festival, the Golden Bear, went to rising Catalan filmmaker Carla Simón (Summer 1993) for her ensemble drama Alcaras about a family who may lose their farm.  

Complete list of winners after the jump and we do expect at least a couple of them to pop up in next year's International Feature Film Oscar race since the buzz often starts at Berlin for some entries to that category...

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Showbiz History: The Warriors, Like a Virgin, and Berlinale Winners

9 random things that happened on this day, February 9th, in showbiz history...

1964 It's the first appearance of The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show. 73 million people were watching.

1971 Supposedly All in the Family's fifth episode "Judging Books by Covers", airing on this night, is the first on American TV dealing with homosexuality. Archie Bunker mistakenly assumes a guy he meets is gay and then later learns that one of his best friends actually is.

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