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The language of music – interview with composer Peyman Yazdanian

28Mar

The language of music – interview with composer Peyman Yazdanian

One of the most touching films of this year's Berlinale screened in the Generation K+ Section was the Chinese film Zhi Wu Xue Jia - The Botanist by Jing Yi. A film that takes us to a small village at the Chinese border close to Kasachstan. For its touching portrayal of the region, its enrichment to the discourse on the human-nature relation and its stunning pictures The Botanist receives this year's Grad Prix for Best Feature Film in the Generation K+ section. I was deeply touched by this film and especially by the wonderful music, that transported the beauty and melancholy of the pictures. Therefore I asked composer Peyman Yazdanian for an interview. Peyman is an Iranian pianist and music composer. He is internationally known for his compositions for both national and foreign feature film...

Film as a Fight for Social Justice – an Interview with Director Lucia Murat about her Film ‘Hora do Recreio’

18Mar

By Anouk SegebartNo Comments

Interview

Film as a Fight for Social Justice – an Interview with Director Lucia Murat about her Film ‘Hora do Recreio’

It is tuesday afternoon during the Berlinale. The CinemaxX cinema is full of filmmakers, Journalists and Berlinale visitors. We manage to find a spot to record our own Interview, and are very excited when we finally get to meet and talk with Lucia Murat, the Director of 'Hora do Recreio'. In this interview, Lucia Murat talks about her personal background, about what moved her to make this movie, about the experience while working with the teenagers and about the systemic origins of violence. You can listen to it below, scroll further down to read along, or watch a shortened version of the Interview on our Instagram (or at the very bottom of the article). Interview by Liv Heyden and Anouk Segebart, video and photos by Lukas Mascher. https://open.spotify.com/episode/3OZBeNjWrekaz0vtXK...

4Mar

By SarahNo Comments

Review

Multifaceted Perspectives on Deafness

With If You Are Afraid You Put Your Heart into Your Mouth and Smile in the Forum section and Sorda (Deaf) in the Panorama section, this year's Berlinale program features two films that each explore the lives of a deaf woman and mother and their respective environments. Both films received the CICAE Art Cinema Award, awarded by the International Confederation of Arthouse Cinemas, which aims to bring outstanding films to arthouse cinemas. Additionally, Sorda was awarded the Panorama Audience Award, determined this year by around 28,000 votes. If You Are Afraid You Put Your Heart into Your Mouth and Smile also won the Jury Award of the Teddy Awards, the Berlinale's queer film prize. The representation of this theme in both films high...

Oppressed, empowered, overlooked: Young Perspectives in the Berlinale Competition

28Feb

By Liv ThastumNo Comments

Review

Oppressed, empowered, overlooked: Young Perspectives in the Berlinale Competition

The first competition lineup under festival director Tricia Tuttle was presented at this year’s 75th Berlinale and featured several films with young protagonists in focus. The world of children and teenagers is portrayed in vastly different ways. How do these films differ? How is the young perspective brought to the screen? And which of these films are fitting for a young audience? Liv Thastum reflects on three of this year’s competition films: the Argentinian El mensaje by Iván Fund (Silver Bear winner), the Norwegian winner of the Golden Bear Drømmer by Dag Johan Haugerud, and the Ukrainian documentary Strichka chasu by Kateryna Gornostai. Oppressed: El mensaje © Iván Fund, Laura Mara Tablón, Gustavo Schiaffino / Rita Cine, Insomnia Films ...

“Life is complex sometimes and that’s okay. You don’t have to be afraid of it.” – An interview with Eric San, the director of Space Cadet

25Feb

By EmilyNo Comments

Review

“Life is complex sometimes and that’s okay. You don’t have to be afraid of it.” – An interview with Eric San, the director of Space Cadet

The animated, dialogue-free film Space Cadet is part of this years Generation Kplus program and is centered around the beautiful relationship between the young girl Celeste and her guardian Robot. We had the chance to meet up with director Eric San at a café close to Filmtheater am Friedrichshain after one of the screenings. Sadly, we had to cut a majority of the fascinating and very pleasant, one-hour-long conversation. Here are some excerpts on the film, it’s themes, music and history and on the way kids deal with complex emotions. Freie Generation Reporter:innen (FGR): In general, how are you enjoying the Berlinale so far? How are the different screenings? Eric San: The premiere at HKW was wonderful. There was a full house, a thousand people or something, and just that real electr...

21Feb

By Liv ThastumNo Comments

Review

Rain exhausts over Assam

A poem in reaction to the film "Village Rockstars 2" by Rima Das (for Rima Das and the women of Kalardiya) when flood comesthe river lives in our house for a whilethe bed gets wetthe grain drowns I only cry when I'm alone,says the motherI want to be small again,says the daughter men want to buy the landheavy machines will carve cracks into the landscapeasphalt will pour over the fieldsmoney will change hands mother and daughter know:there was once a forest herethere once was a river tree bleeds, resin drips trees will be felledbikes will rustsongs will be sungthe field will remain ours

21Feb

By MyraNo Comments

Review

Daye: Seret Ahl El Daye

A review of Daye: Seret Ahl El Daye The film Daye: Seret Ahl El Daye tells the moving story of a young boy who pursues his greatest dream despite all obstacles. Daye, a 14-year-old Albino from Aswan, has an extraordinary voice and dreams of participating in The Voice. However, his path is anything but easy: he is bullied because of his appearance, struggles with family conflicts, and ultimately embarks on a journey full of challenges to Cairo in order to make his dream come true. The storyline is especially compelling due to its inspiring message. The film explores deep themes such as bullying, family tensions, and the courage to ask for help. One of the most touching aspects is the support Daye receives from his music teacher, who not only recognizes his talent but also accompanie...

21Feb

By SarahNo Comments

Review

A Loving Portrait of Sisterhood

A review of "Dreams in Nightmares", shown in the Panorama section. Thundering music, growing ever more intense, echoes from the speakers. The first audience members start covering their ears. Meanwhile, black-and-white images of fieldwork and a country road rolling by fill the screen. The music builds to an almost unbearable tension—until it suddenly cuts out, releasing the audience into the film. Nachdem ihr der Job gekündigt wird, sucht Z ihre zwei engsten Freundinnen in New York auf. Gemeinsam machen sie sich auf die Suche nach einer weiteren Freund:in, die sich länger nicht mehr gemeldet hat. Das Publikum wird mitgenommen auf einen Roadtrip durch die USA, der eine tiefgehende und liebevolle Freundschaft zwischen den jungen Frauen porträtiert. Gemeinsam gehen sie feier...

„When you hear all these horrible stories you simply have to make this film“ – An interview with the director of Sunshine

21Feb

By SarahNo Comments

Interview

„When you hear all these horrible stories you simply have to make this film“ – An interview with the director of Sunshine

With Sunshine (review) the experienced Filipina film maker Antoinette Jadaone presents a film that addresses the stigma surrounding abortion in her deeply Christian country. I had the opportunity to meet her and the male lead Elijah Canlas at Berlinale Palast to ask them a few questions. We talked about the state of abortions in the Philippines, and what it means to create a film covering such a difficult topic. Free Generation Reporters (fGR): What sparked your idea for the film? Antoinette Jadaone: I don't know if you have heard of the film Jojo Rabbit by Taika Waititi. It is a little bit of a weird connection, but in the film, the lead character had an imaginary friend who is Hitler. While watching it, I wasn't able to focus on the film anymore. I had this light bulb idea of...

System-critical drama with a lot of heart and humor

20Feb

By ClaraNo Comments

Review

System-critical drama with a lot of heart and humor

a review on "Sunshine" Sunshine stands on the gymnastics mat, her competition suit bearing the Philippine national flag. All around her, everything goes quiet. She closes her eyes, fully concentrated. Music starts, people cheer, Sunshine opens her eyes, smiles and starts her performance. Making it to the Philippine national team and competing for her country in rhythmic gymnastics at the Olympics is Sunshine's (Maris Racal) greatest wish. She has been training for this every day for over 10 years, everything revolves around the sport and her goal is within her sights - when she suddenly faints during training and finds out that she is pregnant after taking a secret pregnancy test. Completely overwhelmed by the situation, Sunshine has to find a way to deal with it, because abortions a...