For the sixth season running, the Friedrichshain Open-Air Cinema, in cooperation with radio eins, is showing some of the gems from this year's Berlinale. Anke Leweke and Knut Elstermann, film reviewers for radio eins, will open the Summer Berlinale and whet our appetites for the next four days of stimulating viewing.
Thursday, July 17, 9:30 p.m.
Berlinale Forum: My Winnipeg, Canada 2007, directed by Guy Maddin. Presented by Christoph Terhechte This film would have us believe that the Canadian town of Winnipeg is a place of superlatives: it is the coldest city in the world with the smallest park in the world, a city of sleepwalkers, magnetists, and séances. Guy Maddin's tribute to his Canadian hometown is both grim and poetic, an autobiographical fairytale that cleverly combines documentary footage with re-enactments, family photos, and clips from old films.
Friday, July 18, 9:30 p.m.
Berlinale Panorama: Lemon Tree, Israel, Germany, France 2008, directed by Eran Riklis.
Presented by Wieland Speck An old lemon grove is at the centre of an acrimonious fight between the Palestinian widow Salma and the Israeli Minister of Defence Navon. Eran Riklis (The Syrian Bride) takes a very personal and surprisingly intimate look at the conflict in the Middle East and its consequences.
Saturday, July 19, 9:30 p.m.
Berlinale Competition: Tropa de Elite, Brazil, Argentina 2007, directed by José Padilha.
Presented by Thomas Hailer Awarded the Golden Bear at the 58th Berlinale The most popular and most discussed film in Brazil tells the story of a Brazilian elite squad's brutal war against the drug lords ruling the Rio slums. The policemen cross every line, driving them to despair.
Sunday, July 20, 9:30 p.m.
Berlinale Retrospective: Un chien andalou (1929) and Simon of the Desert, directed by Luis Buñuel.
Presented by Connie Betz Luis Buñuel's surrealist classic with one of the most notorious scenes in film history: a cloud moves across the full moon and a razor slices the eye of a young woman.
Simon of the Desert is Buñuel's adaptation of the legend of the prophet Simon, who sits on top of a pillar in the desert for forty years to be closer to God. Every now and then farmers or priests come to see him, demanding miracles and words of advice from the enlightened man. This award-winning film was never actually completed because of a lack of funds.
For more information:www.freiluftkino-berlin.de
The Radstadion Open-Air in Cologne (www.radstadion-openair.de) as well as the Vier Linden Cinema in Düsseldorf (www.filmkunstkinos.de) will also be showing films from this year's Berlinale in July and August.
Thursday, July 17, 9:30 p.m.
Berlinale Forum: My Winnipeg, Canada 2007, directed by Guy Maddin. Presented by Christoph Terhechte This film would have us believe that the Canadian town of Winnipeg is a place of superlatives: it is the coldest city in the world with the smallest park in the world, a city of sleepwalkers, magnetists, and séances. Guy Maddin's tribute to his Canadian hometown is both grim and poetic, an autobiographical fairytale that cleverly combines documentary footage with re-enactments, family photos, and clips from old films.
Friday, July 18, 9:30 p.m.
Berlinale Panorama: Lemon Tree, Israel, Germany, France 2008, directed by Eran Riklis.
Presented by Wieland Speck An old lemon grove is at the centre of an acrimonious fight between the Palestinian widow Salma and the Israeli Minister of Defence Navon. Eran Riklis (The Syrian Bride) takes a very personal and surprisingly intimate look at the conflict in the Middle East and its consequences.
Saturday, July 19, 9:30 p.m.
Berlinale Competition: Tropa de Elite, Brazil, Argentina 2007, directed by José Padilha.
Presented by Thomas Hailer Awarded the Golden Bear at the 58th Berlinale The most popular and most discussed film in Brazil tells the story of a Brazilian elite squad's brutal war against the drug lords ruling the Rio slums. The policemen cross every line, driving them to despair.
Sunday, July 20, 9:30 p.m.
Berlinale Retrospective: Un chien andalou (1929) and Simon of the Desert, directed by Luis Buñuel.
Presented by Connie Betz Luis Buñuel's surrealist classic with one of the most notorious scenes in film history: a cloud moves across the full moon and a razor slices the eye of a young woman.
Simon of the Desert is Buñuel's adaptation of the legend of the prophet Simon, who sits on top of a pillar in the desert for forty years to be closer to God. Every now and then farmers or priests come to see him, demanding miracles and words of advice from the enlightened man. This award-winning film was never actually completed because of a lack of funds.
For more information:www.freiluftkino-berlin.de
The Radstadion Open-Air in Cologne (www.radstadion-openair.de) as well as the Vier Linden Cinema in Düsseldorf (www.filmkunstkinos.de) will also be showing films from this year's Berlinale in July and August.
