Review

Colorful blankness
Review

Colorful blankness

,,Chimney Town: Frozen in Time" tells the adventurous story of Lubiccini, a chimney sweep who ends up in a parallel world on his way to see his friend Poupelle again, where he is tasked with repairing an important clock. The film stands out above all for its creative and colorful animations, which are carried by the cartoon-like characters. Lubiccini is a bright and funny child who is fun to watch on his expeditions. This was particularly evident in the cinema experience through the shouts of the young audience. The special and initially rocky friendship between Lubiccini and a grumpy cat is very moving. It shows how much shared experiences can bring people together. A very striking element in the film is the symbolism of the clock, which represents the passing of time. This introduc...
keep on swimming or sink  
Film and Poetry, Review

keep on swimming or sink  

„Chicas Tristes“ (Sad Girlz) by Fernanda Tovar tells the story of overwhelming sadness and feelings of powerlessness after rape. Visually stunning, the film does not focus on the assault itself, but rather on its impact on the victim and those close to her. Paula (Darana Álvarez) and Maestra (Rocio Guzmán) are best friends, both members of a swimming team. When Paula is raped by a teammate at a New Year's Eve party, the relationship between the two friends changes abruptly. The director portrays the friendship between the two teenagers with great empathy. True to the real dynamics between best friends, the director captures the beauty of female friendship. The film does not show the cruelty of violence but gives hope and clings to the beautiful things, just as Paula and Maestra cling t...
matapanki
Review, Review

matapanki

Matapanki“ es una película chilena sobre un joven punk que consigue super poderes después de beber una mezcla entre vino barato, tequila y vodca y decide convertirse en superhéroe, pero esta película es mucho más que otra historia mainstream de superhéroes, es una crítica al gobierno chileno, a estados unidos y al capitalismo. Con el paso de la película el personaje principal se va encontrando con diferentes problemáticas en la política Latinoamericana tales como la violencia policial, el desfavorable sistema de salud y la desaparición forzada de gente por parte del gobierno, aunque estos temas no se tratan de manera explícita atreves de la película están presentes casi todo el tiempo y tienen un peso continuo en esta historia. Además se critica fuertemente a USA y a su actual presidente q...
‘You’re a remarkable girl.‘
Review

‘You’re a remarkable girl.‘

A hot summer day, a crack in the asphalt and an unexpected encounter. ‘Bianca, your father and Cruz want to do things differently.‘ ‘Skip the intro, Mom.‘ ‘They think you're out of control.‘ ‘I'm... I'm not out of control.‘ One morning at the breakfast table, her mother tells her that her father and his new girlfriend Cruz think it would be more practical if she visited them every other weekend instead of every weekend. For 13-year-old Bianca, this is not the first time she has felt misunderstood — and, above all, unseen — by her family. Her parents have been separated for some time, and while her mother thinks she needs a ‘manual,‘ she pays much more attention to Bianca's nine-year-old brother Alan, who has a heart condition. Bianca, however, is just looking for stability and s...
A lightsparkling World
Review

A lightsparkling World

Review of Feito pipa: Glittering and sparkling, we dance in Gugu's world, which is filled with movement, lightness, and his grandmother. In Feito pipa (pt. like a kite), Gugu's world is told with great joie de vivre. Gugu is a bright person with many dreams and goals. The relationship between Gugu and her grandmother is colorful and deep, expressed through their shared passion for beauty. Beauty is not seen as superficiality, but as an expression of joie de vivre. The process of dressing up, putting on makeup, and getting ready seems genuine and radiates a sense of connection. This perspective is important. Negative associations and the devaluation of makeup, glitter, and clothing are a devaluation of femininity. The portrayal of a deep and expressive exploration of one's own expres...
Not a her0
Review

Not a her0

... is probably the most abstruse film that the Kplus program has to offer in 2026. But it has absolutely earned its place. Mivan, an 11-year-old city kid, ends up staying with his aunt in an Indian village, where he is confronted with deadly boredom. Everything is unfamiliar. Mivan doesn't know what to do with himself, is on his cell phone, in the garden, and becomes more and more frustrated by the hour. It's a feeling that most people are probably familiar with: the incredible, captivating silence, the pointless passing of time. But also what can come out of this boredom: he starts banging on everything he can, observing and existing. This portrayal of boredom and the inconspicuous, seemingly irrelevant scenes of everyday life, such as the recurring element of going to the toilet...
There are no heroes left in the world
Film and Poetry, Review

There are no heroes left in the world

A poem written as reaction to the film „Not a hero“ by Rima Das houses transform into treesbig streets to forest roads a boy is sent to the village suddenly the only highway around, is the ant trail on top of the trunk “he can’t even read assamese“ say the children at school your parents left the language behind forgot the words in the village as they moved to the city when you look closely at the words their shapes transform into their meaning . গছ is a tree ঘোঁৰা is a horse বন্ধু is a friend . it all makes sense: "sometimes I talk to the trees" says the girl "sometimes I talk to myself" says the boy don’t be afraid to cry boy nature does it all the time the trees need the water there are no heroes left in the world just us Read also: Rain exhaus...
Papaya vs. the World
Review

Papaya vs. the World

With just one word, "Papaya" manages to tell a story that lasts over 71 minutes – and that word is the title itself. In a charming collage of simple shapes and photographs, this animated film tells the story of a small seed that is brought into the world but does not want to put down roots. Instead, the black dot wants to explore the world, and that's exactly what it does: it jumps and crawls, observes and hides. In addition to the flying seeds of the dandelion, which he envies, he finally finds himself in an industrial area that wants to pack the magic of nature into angular boxes. Priscilla Kellen (director and screenwriter) thus takes a joyful look at the relationship between the life of nature and the seemingly lifeless industry. When I saw Alê Abreu's name in the credits as produc...
It’s Time
Background, General, Review

It’s Time

A rustling sound. At first very quiet, barely distinguishable from the wind, then growing louder and louder, hissing and roaring. A flickering, bright light flashes on and off, clacking and clicking — until finally, slowly, a heavy hatch opens and thick steam hisses into the evening sky. ‘Do you think time travel is real?‘ The time machine is the mystery that gives this year's Kplus opening film, A Fabulosa Máquina do Tempo, its title. From the perspective of 10-year-old Manuellinha and her friends, the film explores questions about the past and future, among other things, and what it actually means to grow up. After watching the film, we also took a closer look at these questions and collected various impressions as brief texts, which we would like to share with you here. At the...
Multifaceted Perspectives on Deafness
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...