Berlinale Round-Up

No, I haven’t seen this year’s winner, “Touch Me Not” by Romanian director Adina Pintilie, nor the Silver Bear winner, “Twarz” by Polish director Malgorzata Szumowska, simply because I wasn’t interested in both stories. But it was an especially strong year for German movies (“Transit” at times a bit confusing though), even though they didn’t win anything – maybe that’s because Jury president Tom Tykwer is German, too. Who knows. But I did see “Las Herederas” and I think that Ana Brun deservedly won the best actress award. And I also saw this year’s Teddy winner, “Tinta Bruta” by Brazilian directors Marcio Reolon and Filipe Matzembacher and the Teddy Newcomer Award winner “Retablo” from Peru.

The coming-of-age story in “Tinta Bruta” was especially rewarding because of the simply beautiful language that was spoken there and because Berlin had its own little showcase, too when one of the main characters reveals that he is about to go to Berlin for work. But it was the Generation 14plus movie “Retablo” which remained in my head the longest because of the enigmatic cinematography and the wonderful playing of Junior Béjar Roca and its unbelievably rich colors and love to detail while showing the making of a retablo, little home altars that the father of 14-year old Segundo is selling throughout the villages. The Quechua language is something special to witness, too. I also liked the French Panorama entry “Mes Provinciales” simply because it tells the story of people who are in love with cinema and making films. It was only natural that the movie was shot in black and white and was beautifully executed. It’s going to be Dieter Kosslick’s last Berlinale next year and we will know his successor this summer. Now back to music….