72nd Berlinale | Golden Bear for Alcarràs: her name is Carla Simón

(Berlin) By awarding the Golden Bear to the Catalan film Alcarras, at the same time, the international jury subscribed to the changing of the guard that we observe in the world of major film festivals. A summer like thisby Denis Côté, was also excluded from the honor roll.

Marc-Andre Lussier
The Press

Revealed five years ago at the Berlinale thanks to Summer 93, which earned her the prize for best first film, Catalan director Carla Simón can now add, from her second feature, one of the most prestigious laurels awarded in the world of cinema. In this, the filmmaker shares a point in common with the two most recent winners, from the same generation, of the two other largest competitive film festivals. Titaniumwhich won Julia Ducournau the Palme d’Or at Cannes, was also a second feature, as was The eventby Audrey Diwan, Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival.

Of course, a jury does not give this kind of thing priority consideration during its deliberations, but the fact that formidable female directors are finally recognized in the highest echelons of international cinema still indicates a paradigm shift. For years, festival directors have been singled out for their overly sparse selection of feature films directed by women in their most prestigious sections. The balance is, it seems, finally being established.

“I think it’s here for good, because our frame of reference is changing,” said Carla Simón during the press conference held after the ceremony. Above all, we feel a desire for change. Women directors are also much more numerous among the new generations. »

Alcarraswhich will henceforth be one of the most popular titles on the festival circuit, is a multi-generational family portrait, inspired by the filmmaker’s own experience of living in rural Catalonia.

Two non-gendered interpretation awards

It should be noted that the Berlinale is also the first of the major film festivals to eliminate genres from its list. For the first time, a Silver Bear was awarded for Best Supporting Performance, as well as a Silver Bear for Best Performance in a Leading Role. The first went to Laura Basuki, whose composition in the Indonesian film girl (Kamila Andini) was highlighted by the jury; the second to German actress Meltem Kaptan. The latter, who was warmly acclaimed by the public of the Berlinale Palast, plays Rabiye Kurnaz in Rabiye Kurnaz vs. George W. Bush. Based on a true story, this drama recounts the journey of the mother of Murat Kurnaz, who, shortly after the attacks of September 11, 2001, was arrested in Afghanistan, suspected of terrorism and sent to Guantánamo prison. This film also won the Silver Bear for Best Screenplay.

Hong Sangsoo walked away from the Berlinale with the Grand Jury Prize thanks to his new feature film, The Novelist’s Film, at the center of which is a writer in artistic crisis. Already awarded last year thanks to Introduction (best screenplay), then the year before with The woman who got away (best direction), the veteran Korean filmmaker was in the running for the Golden Bear for the sixth time.

eight out of eighteen

For her part, Claire Denis won the prize for directing thanks to With love and determination. In her speech, the French filmmaker paid tribute to the actors of the film, Juliette Binoche, Vincent Lindon and Grégoire Colin. “My staging would not have been possible without these actors. A staging with them, it becomes easier! »

In all, 8 of the 18 feature films selected in the official competition won awards. The Jury Prize was awarded to Robe of Gemsby Natalia López Gallardo, for the best artistic contribution to Everything Will Be OKby Rithy Panh, and special mention was given to A Piece of Skyby Michael Koch.

Remember that the jury for this shortened edition of the Berlinale, held under very special conditions, was chaired by American filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan.