Competition
Filmfest Locarno: German production is top favorite
At halftime of the 78th Film Festival Locarno, German and German participation have been in the race for one of the coveted awards. An overview.
The heart of the 78th Film Festival Locarno was shaped by the German cinema: the feature film “Langing in Sangerhausen” realized by German producers opened the international competition. Author and director Julian Radlmaier (“Blood Sucker”) tells about their identity in a suggestive way of looking for young women.
In the background story, personal stories merge into a multifaceted social picture. There was great applause on the most important European film festival next to Berlin, Cannes and Venice. A total of 18 films from all over the world are currently in the race for the coveted main prize, the golden leopard – and “longing in Sangerhausen” is a top favorite.
In addition to the episode film by Julian Radlmaier, which is convincing with a stylistic originality and the weight of the content, four international co -productions created with German participation are applying:
The road movie “Dry Leaf” by the Georgian director Alexandre Koberidzedie “Donkey Days” by the Dutch Rosanne Peldie Lovestory “White Snail” by the Austrian-German director Elsa Kremser and Levin Peters Documentary film “With Hasan in Gaza” from the Palestinian filmmaker Kamal Aljafari.
Mit-favorite “White Snail”: Reality without space for dreams
So far, a sustainable impression at the festival has also left “White Snail”. The focus is on Belarusin Masha. She dreams of a career as a model. But reality has no room for their dreams. Even love does not lead to the seventh heaven.
The often surreal -looking story widens to an intensive study of social borders and thus class barriers. In addition to “longing in Sangerhausen”, the so sensitive and pointed exploration of life has so far been the top favorite for many on the award with the golden leopard.
“With Hasan in Gaza”: An everyday life that no longer exists
In addition, the documentary “With Hasan in Gaza” from the Palestinian filmmaker Kamal Aljafari is under discussion. It shows scenes of life in Gaza in 2001 with old videos. An everyday life that no longer exists. The film does not evaluate anything. The spectators are required to relate the snapshots from the past themselves.
What raised the question of many festival visitors in Locarno whether this cinematic journey into yesterday does not require too much knowledge from the audience. In the opinion of many, the intensity of the pictures deserves an award.
However, half of the competition films are still pending. So it is currently not predicting which films are in the end with prices. So far, however, German filmmakers have great opportunities. That also on the coveted audience award.
It is awarded to one of the films that are shown in evening open-air performances for up to 9,000 spectators on the Piazza Grande von Locarno, the picturesque market square, outside of all competitions. So far, the American-German co-production “The Dead of Winter” has been scored here in particular.
Honorary Award for Emma Thompson
In the thriller, which is balancing between black humor, bloody action and heart pain, plays world star Emma Thompson (“Harry Potter”, “My hours with Leo”) a powerful widow. It proves tangible that women can also move mountains beyond 60 with a sharp mind and full physical effort.
On the occasion of the premiere of the film, Emma Thompson received an honorary award from the festival on the Piazza Grande and was celebrated by thousands of film fans. The two-time British Oscar winner gave the Locarno Film Festival for some of the most glamorous minutes in the history of the festival, which was now almost eight decades. On Saturday evening, the Golden Leopard for the life’s work went to the action actor Jackie Chan.
A success of the cinema “Made in Germany”
Even if all hopes burst and there is no honor at the festival’s degree, the 78th edition of the Film Festival on the Swiss bank of Lake Maggiore is already a success of the cinema “Made in Germany”. Because a whopping 22 of 222 films, i.e. ten percent of the total festival offer in the various competitions and sections, were at least re -realized by German filmmakers.
A nation’s presence on such a significant film festival is already an award. The prices will be awarded on the evening of August 16 during a gala on the Piazza Grande of Locarno.
dpa
Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
