Former muse of Derek Jarmen, which is very popular in Germany, and which was a chairperson of jury of this year's ‘Berlinale - 2009' festival, successfully manipulated with the name of author's film name. At the very opening day of the festival, at the press conference, members of jury delivered next one lecture about the necessity to rescue the independent film, which may be "swallowed by the mainstream". Maybe because of this fact so many prizes are given to the poor "third world" film directors. In fact, what happen is, what should happen, and what was expected at the Berlinale generally - the red carpet and hundreds of cameras for the stars, and prizes for the socially and politically deprived ones.
Film lovers were waiting in chains in search for the tickets many hours. At the day of opening almost all teenagers of the city were at the "Marlene Dietrich Platz".
Tom Tikver was lucky one. He opened the festival in second time with a film (new film "International", it really fit for the Hollywood dimensions). Such a great honor is clear, as the Germans have no any more the grand scale producers.
Energetic and attractive Clive Owen and too much serious Naomi Whats are trying to investigate the dark labyrinths of transnational banking business and even are fighting with weapon suppliers. The slogan of the film is "they are controlling the world they are controlling you", this can be understood as a fate of the world poisoned by globalization, were for the small human being a small importance is paid. Very impressive is the scene of slaughter in museum of Guggenheim in New York. This maybe will make Tarantino to smile. This scene is apparently the inspiration of Orson Wells (episode with the room with mirrors in the film "Lady from Shanghai")
If we look at the competition program, we can say that such "Cultural Hollywood" never been in Berlin. The actor Michael Lichtenstein said that the author's film may still be made (this actor was filming in "Tears of happiness"). The detailed description of the prosaic USA day-to-day life may be counted as laughter and the anti Hollywood action. Very interesting work is the film of a young film director Iren Moverman "Announcer". This film is almost the reply to US president's speech Barak Obama: two USA officers (young actor Ben Foster and Vudy Harleson) are informing the families of died soldiers in Iraq. The film is very anti militaristic. The film director talks about the disadvantage side of own country. The film is accepted by critics, and film director noted that main is not the victory or defeat in the war but the fact that nothing will be forgiven, and the dignity is more important.
One more anti Hollywood retro is the film "My one and only", but it is not so much educative as it is characteristic to the European film directors. For example as the "Dust of the time" Teo Angelopulos.
Elegance of Lonkrain, good humor and scenario gives to the actors "carte blanch". "The Storm" of Hans Christian Schmidt is about the Brussels political hurdles and Balkan problems. The less important film of Maren Ade "All others" became interesting for jurors when the very important film "Germany 09" was unnoticed. Films of 13 German film directors are united with one principle - problems of modern Germany.
And finally, about two Englishman the influence of which to the modern cinematography far exceeded prizes distributed according to the humanitarian aid principle - Stiven Daldro and Stiven Frirzi. The first one is a "Reader" according to the bestseller of Bernhard Shlink. The second is "Mary" film about the 20-s of 19 century.
The gold "bears" given according to political considerations. We can note once again about inequalities and injustice of the modern world.
Prizes were distributed as following:
The "golden bear" for the best film was given to "Milk of sadness" (film director Claudia Liosa), Grand Prize of jury - for "All others" (film director Maren Ade) and
"Giant" (film director Adrian Binies), "Silver bear" - for the best film director Asgar Farkhadi, the special prize of jury was given to film director Anjey Viada.
