(Berlin) Two years after holding the last major international cultural event under normal conditions, the Berlinale is once again welcoming the world, this time in a joint format. With peter von kantFrançois Ozon will have the honor of launching this Thursday a festival where new works by Denis Côté, Miryam Charles and Philippe Falardeau are also selected.
Posted at 6:00 a.m.
Last year, the organizers of the Berlinale had resigned themselves to holding an entirely virtual edition, the highlights of which were then presented to the Berlin public in the halls of the German capital a few months later. This time, the festival does indeed take place “in real life”, but in a reduced version, under close surveillance. Total vaccination required, daily antigenic tests compulsory for all professionals and journalists, capacity reduced to 50% in projection rooms and conference rooms, absence of receptions and parties, in short, the pandemic is still acting up. The red carpet tradition is pretty much the only one to survive under the circumstances.
The race for the Golden Bear will be launched on opening night with the presentation of peter von kant, also registered in the official competition. The new film by François Ozon, whose headliners are Denis Ménochet, Isabelle Adjani and Khalil Garbia, is a free adaptation of the play by Rainer Warner Fassbender The bitter tears of Petra von Kant, in which the genders are reversed. A participation of Hanna Schygulla in the new opus of the director of Thanks to God also evokes the film that Fassbinder himself made of his play 50 years ago.
A 4and times in competition for Denis Côté
Also selected in official competition, A summer like this, by Denis Côté. For the Quebec filmmaker, this is the fourth selection in official competition at the Berlinale. In 2013, Vic+Flo saw a bear won the Silver Bear for most innovative film. Boris without Beatrice was nominated for the Golden Bear in 2016, along with Directory of disappeared towns three years later.
Starring Larissa Corriveau, Laure Giappiconi and Aude Mathieu, A summer like this recounts the journey of three young women who, for 26 days, explore their sexual discomfort in a nursing home. Under the quiet supervision of a German therapist (Anne Ratte Polle) and a benevolent social worker (Samir Guesmi), the three protagonists experience a moment a little out of time.
PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Denis Côté is coming to Berlin with the pride of having been selected in official competition for the fourth time.
All this stems from a discussion between friends, when we wondered why sex was so rare in Quebec cinema. For 25 years, we have practically counted on the fingers of one hand the films where sex is the central point of the story and where we talk about it clearly.
Denis Cote
“Then, coming across a book in which the word nymphomania was analyzed through the ages, I had the idea of doing a serious exercise on this theme, with complex characters. I wanted a responsible, benevolent approach, which takes into account the times in which we live and what I am, a white man. straight in middle age. There are no shocking scenes or voyeurism. I’m not looking for controversy. »
Denis Côté thus comes to Berlin with the attitude of a filmmaker driven by a sense of pride.
“I’m starting to want to shout it everywhere,” he said. A summer like this is my 14and film and all of them were presented in a major festival. It annoys me a little that we are talking about subscription and evidence. I have to shield myself because we tend to see it as an automatism. However, this is false. But that doesn’t detract from the pleasure of returning to Berlin for a fourth time in competition. It’s always fun to live this experience with actors who have never had the opportunity to go there. »
Among the other feature films in the running for the Golden Bear, 18 in all, let’s mention With love and determinationby Claire Denis (with Juliette Binoche and Vincent Lindon), Call Janeby Phyllis Nagy (with Elizabeth Banks and Sigourney Weaver), Everything Will Be OKby Rithy Panh, Leonora addioby Paolo Taviani, Lineby Ursula Meier, passengers of the nightby Mikhaël Hers (with Charlotte Gainsbourg and Noée Abita), Riminiby Ulrich Seidl, and The Novelist’s Film, by Hong Sangsoo. The jury, chaired this year by American filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan, will deliver its verdict on February 16.
Other Quebecers in Berlin
Miryam Charles will have the honor of presenting her first feature film, selected in the Forum section of the Berlinale. Both documentary and fiction, This house takes the form of a poetic essay, inspired by a family drama experienced by the Quebec director. Also starring Schelby Jean-Baptiste and Florence Blain Mbaye, the film wishes to echo the luminous aspect of a teenager whose life has been tragically interrupted.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY AMBUSCADE FILMS
A scene from This house. Miryam Charles’ film is presented in the Forum section of the Berlinale.
“I still find it hard to believe in this selection,” said Miryam Charles on the eve of her departure for the German capital. I’m feverish, excited, so grateful to be invited, both me and the team. »
Being rather shy by nature, I am also very happy to be accompanied there by the actresses and producers. It will be a great experience, no doubt about it!
Miriam Charles
Philippe Falardeau, who had the honor of opening the Berlinale in 2020 with his film My Salinger Yearreturns this time as director of the series Raspberry time, which will close the Berlinale Series segment. Written by Florence Longpré (Can you hear me ?) and Suzie Bouchard (eye of the storm), this series stars Sandrine Bisson, Edison Ruiz, Micheline Lanctôt, Elijah Patrice and Paul Doucet.
“It’s like a decompartmentalization,” says the filmmaker. I haven’t been out of the country since returning from Berlin two years ago when the pandemic was declared. I welcomed this selection as if I had found myself dazzled by the light after having spent a lot of time in a somewhat cavernous and dark cave. I find it fun for the series, for the team, and we go there in large numbers. It’s like a big breath of fresh air. »
The 72and Berlinale runs from February 10 to 20. The winners will be announced on February 16.