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Berlinale 2017 Album
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Berlinale Day 9
Berlinale Day 9
The final day of screenings, the Romanian film Ana, Mon Amour from previous Golden Bear winner Calin Peter Netzer ran for the press in Competition. A complicated psychological love story involving, sex and religion. The narrative structure of the film is complex, flashbacks. It was noted the film was influenced by Bergman’s Scene from a Marriage.
Starring Diana Cavallioti and Mircea Postelnicu as a couple with challenges, the director focused on close ups of the actors to move the story along. There is a lot of nudity along with a strong sex scene, was the sex over the top? The opinions were mixed.
Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, and Director James Mangold arrived at the Berlinale with their new film Logan, another sequel to the Marvel Comics X-Men/Wolverine Series. The latest franchise installment screened out of competition. The applause level was 4/10. After a festival of so many heavy films, it was a relief to see a Hollywood Blockbuster film.
Logan marks the end of the series for star Jackman. He and his team took on a darker tone with the R rated saga with a marked increased level violence and the added ingredient of eleven year old killing machine Laura (Dafne Keen). This was a controversial topic during the press conference. Mangold defended the violence by saying his film was aimed at adults.
I did not see the film but the press room feedback was mostly positive.
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Berlinale Day 8
Berlinale Day 8
I am sorry to report I did not attend any press conferences today. I was a bit behind on work and writing. The films today were:
On The Beach at Night Alone in Competition from Korea, a story centering on woman in an dire emotional state of mind trying to recover.
Joaquim in Competition from Brazil and Portugal
I heard Joaquim was not a bad film.
The Scholondorff film The Return to Montauk has been panned. Some in the press pool said it was “AWFUL!”
Leading Golden Bear Contenders The Other Side of Hope and On Body and Soul from Hungary is a dark horse in the race.
Luxury watch maker Glashutte was this yeas sponsor for the Golden Bear Lounge. The brand unveiled a new collection of timepieces Sixties Iconic Square, colorful, retro, and stylish. I think the watches are about getting noticed but in an elegant fun way! I will have more later.
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Berlinale-God’s Own Country
Black and Paper interview with God’s Own Country stars Josh O’Connor and Alec Secareanu at the 67th Berlinale.
God’s Own Country has received acclaimed on many fronts. One of the main ingredients for the well-received film has been the chemistry of the lead actors, new comers who have given note-worthy performances.
What is your acting background?
Alec-Acting in Romania, theater, shorts. This is my first lead role in a film.
Josh-I have been acting for 6 years. I have been doing theater, parts in films and television. This is my second lead role.
Certain scenes of the film were a bit more “open” than others, how did you prepare for these scenes?
We knew about it when we read the script. Some scenes were “open” but after meeting Francis, he knew what he wanted. It was not gratuitous. We rehearsed, choreographed, like a dance routine. Those scenes were a part of the story.
The movie depended on your relationship with each other, were you comfortable working with each other at the beginning?
We shot the movie in chronological order. The production was a 6 week shoot. We rehearsed but stayed cleared each other. We trained on different farms, working 8 hours a day. We came together after the first week of production. During the filming we became friends.
The movie evolved from contempt to affection.
Yeah, Gheorghe changes Johnny. At the beginning of the film he is stooped over, closed off from everyone. His outlook changes during the relationship.
How have you handled the critical acclaim?
We are proud of our work with the reviews from Sundance and the Berlinale.
Josh-It is a film about optimism. What is happening in the UK now, Brexit, I think it is important message.
The other film with LGBT theme at Sundance was Call Me By Your Name but our film is not about sexuality.
What did your family think when they saw the film?
Alec- My family has been supportive, Romania does not have a tradition of rights for LGTB. I hope this film will help with a better understanding of LGBT people.
You had an incident not related to the film, but because of your background?
Alec-While I was in Yorkshire I went to buy a beer in a convenience store. The cashier asked to see my ID, when he I showed him it to him, Romania, he refused to sell me anything.
Josh-My family has not seen it.
What is next for you guys?
Alec- I want to work more in English Language films.
Josh-I am attached to a big indie film, a love story.
Black and Paper recommends God’s Own Country. A poignant film about life, love gained, and consequences when the unexpected occurs.
God’s Own Country was screened at the 67th Berlinale in Panorama Section.
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Berlinale with Arri
Arri is celebrating its 100th anniversary. The famed camera maker is a leading technology firm in the motion picture industry.
The new Trinity Mount is a new tool to produce films offering great flexibility. For those of you in film production you understand the time used for setting up shots. With this device, time is saved because the director and Cinematography do not lose time setting up shots.
When I watch movies I am always curious about the production of the film. I ask myself how did the team set up a certain shot? What lighting style or lens was employed? How was the camera choreographed for movement. I have watched Rope and Touch of Evil many times just for the tracking shots and long takes. Imagine what Hitchcock or Welles would have done with the Arri Trinity?
A BIG THANK YOU to the Arri team for the demonstration during the Berlinale.
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Berlinale Day 7
Berlinale Day 7
On the competition front there was the new Volker Schlondorff film Return to Montauk. I did not see the film but the judging by the level of applause the critical reaction to the film was not so good. I asked two people, a male and a female. The male journalist loathed it but the female journalist liked it. The film is based on a book by Max Frisch concerning lovers who meet then separate with the Max (Berlinale regular guest Stellan Skarsgard) hoping for another chance. Nina Hoss also stars as Rebecca .
Stay tuned for updates about this film.
Screening out of competition was the newest film by Alex de la Iglesia’s The Bar, a dark Spanish comedy starring Maria Casas and Jose Sacristan. During the press conference Mr. Iglesia mentioned the use of lighting and sets as a narrative tool, finding inspiration from old Hollywood films. Berlinale press reaction to the film was lukewarm. I am not a fan of the director’s previous work. I have a feeling his latest film will not change my mind.
Berlinale Updates:
There are two standouts A Fantastic Woman and The Other Side of Hope. One could take home the Gold Bear. Luis Gnecco could get the Actress Award.
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Berlinale Day 6
Berlinale Day 6
How do you start a day in the surreal? Attend a Aki Kaurismaki press conference. The Finnish directors film The Other Side of Hope debuted at the Berlinale today, his first film in Competition. The feedback I have gotten concerning the pic has been mixed to good. The Nordic auteur was nothing if not genuine. The entire press conference was more entertaining than many films at the festival. I have never attended a press conference where a person stood up to sing a Finnish Tango song.
https://www.facebook.com/breck5/videos/10211656432596754/
The films premise is that of a Syrian Refugee (An Everyday Topic in Europe) played by Sherwan Haji, who arrives in Finland only to go into hiding at a restaurant when he learns he will be deported. The Other Side of Hope is part of a trilogy. When the other 2 films will happen is a guess.
The press conference took on political tones of nationalism, xenophobia, and racism in the form of questions and answers from both the press and the panel. The helmer commented, in Finland with the arrival of many male refugee, the men of the country took it as an act of war. His film was not about changing the world’s opinion on refugees, only Europe’s opinion on refugees. Tomorrow it could be you who is the refugee. Today it is him, said the director.
The second press conference, The Lost City of Z, with Robert Pattison and Charlie Hunnam as early 2oth century explorers is a bit of an old Hollywood adventure epic picture. Did the press pool like it? I got positive feedback. Director James Gray tackles the White Man Burden’s/Destiny themes by dissecting it. Based on the adventures of Percy Fawcett who disappeared in the Brazilian Jungle while searching for a lost civilazation in the early part of the 20th century.
The Lost City of Z was screened out of Competition at the Berlinale.
Catherine Deneuve returned to the Berlinale starring in the Martin Provst film The Mid Wife. Judging by the initial applause of the film and the lack of audience at the press conference, I would guess the film is not one of her best features. What made the press conference was the presence of a Diva wearing a Black Leather Dress with such commanding presence one would dare not notice her. At this stage of her career I was curious what motivated her, thankfully, another journalist asked her. She responded by saying, I choose the director more than the character. Concerning her acting, “There is always a bit of me in a film”. I understand Beatrice Sobolevski, the lead character from the film, but I am far from her, said Deneuve.
The Mid Wife also stars Catherine Froth and Olivier Gourmet. In Competition at the 67th Berlinale.
UPDATES:
The Party received 2.3 stars from critics. A surprisingly low rating given the level of applause at the press conference.
Mr. Long from Japan received 2.0 stars from the critical review polling. The film is a story of a man trying to find a new life, starring Chang Chen.
There is still no front runner for the Golden Bear. Trying to guess what the jury will favor this year has proven to be a difficult task.
www.berlinale.de
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Berlinale Shooting Stars Marusa Majer
Marusa Majer from Slovenia I found her alluring, edgy, not just her look but personality wise.
A graduate of the University of Ljubljana, Marusa has appeared in a number of films including: Driving School.
What type of roles would you like to play?
I have been lucky because until now I have played a number of different roles. I hope this continues. I do not want to be stereotyped.
What was your first acting part?
A moon in a kindergarten play.
What inspired you to become an actress?
Acting interested me from a viewpoint of standpoint. I have to reach into myself, it is constant learning.
What performer inspired you?
Meryl Streep and Jennifer Lawrence.
What are your future plans?
I have a theater premiere in Slovenia, improve. Being a classically trained stage actress I am going back to my roots.
Career ambitions?
Auditions. All is looking bright. I have a lot of work at home.
The European Shooting Stars is a program designed to focus the spotlight on young acting talent. Each year a jury chooses 10 performers with screen experience to be presented at the Berlinale as the Stars of Tomorrow.
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Berlinale Shooting Stars Ebsen Smed
Esben Smed from Denmark- A bit of a cold smoldering charm, a graduate of the Danish School of Performing Arts, Esben is a regular in the television series Follow The Money.
What type of role attracts you as a performer?
Not just one type but something that gets my attention. I like to research and discover a character’s traits. I like looking for the unknown.
What was your first acting role?
I had a small role in a theater play when I was 15. I got good feedback.
What inspired to become an actor?
I was interning at a theater building the scenes or sets. I saw the actors rehearsing. I read the scripts/ The theater manager asked me to go out for a casting. I did. I got the part.
What performer inspires you the most?
Daniel Day Lewis, Casey Affleck, and Joaquin Phoenix, I watch their work and I find it inspiring.
What are your future goals?
I want to have another baby.
Career goals?
More work. I have a number of projects in the works.
The European Shooting Stars is a program designed to focus the spotlight on young acting talent. Each year a jury chooses 10 performers with screen experience to be presented at the Berlinale as the Stars of Tomorrow.
Louis Hofmann from Germany A young face on the scene with a radiant smile, he has raked up an impressive list of awards and credits. Louis will star in Netflix series Dark.
What type of roles would you like to play?
I like dramatic, characters on the edge of existence, real problems. I played a comedic role. It was a great space. So now I would like have a mixture.
What was your first acting role?
A very small role in a television series “Danni Lowinski”, I was 11. I had two words, “F*ck You! And I shot a birdie.
What inspired you to become an actor?
When I 10 or 11 I spoke to actors about what they did. The way they described it, I was fascinated. I begged my mother to sign me up with an agent. When I was 13 I got the lead in the German version of Tom Sawyer the film. Acting is self-therapy for me.
Is there a performer you admire the most?
I have three, Leo DiCaprio and Eddie Redmayne and Tom Schilling.
What are your future plans?
I am shooting the series Dark for Netflix working with Beran Bo Odar and Jentje Friese. The show will air at the end of the year.
What are your career ambitions?
I would like to mix working internationally and locally. When I worked in Denmark on a co-production I learned there was a different approach to making films.