Final day of Berlinale - about awards: Bears and in general..

So finally Berlinale 2012 came to an end..

~ Berlinale 2012 ~

Very quick a little bit about another film which was showed during "Berlinale Special":

THE LIFE AND DEATH OF COLONEL BLIMP (UK, 1943)

A Powell and Pressburger film (love their films) - with Deborah Kerr and my beloved Anton Walbrook - I guess I don't have to tell you about the story or anything else about this film which was dubbed "the English answer to CITIZEN KANE"..

So right back to Berlinale:

Yesterday the Berlinale awards - the Berlinale Bears -  were given to the awardees - except for the Honorary Golden Bear for Meryl Streep: she  received her award in a special gala before..

I think the Berlinale awards are very cute:

I won't write much about the awards (and awardees) - because frankly I do not care too much for awards. I love those shows - and I enjoy all those featured films around "award season".. I accept that awards are very nice gesture. And I think that it might be wonderful for the winners to finally receive a feeling of being appreciated and loved (or their work - if they can divide that from another) - but I really don't think that an artist becomes a better artist because a bunch of people says so. Though: I like Honorary awards - those awards for life's work.. I know I might be not logical in your point of view..

~ James Mason and Judy Garland in A STAR IS BORN (1954) ~

Awards just don’t mean so much to me. It’s no difference to me whether an actor has an Academy Award or not. I either like them/their performances or not. Yes, of course I am happy for the actors who I like  to receive an award – it means that a small group of people think they did a good performance. How nice for everyone to know that he/she is appreciated – and of course for an actor it means he/she will get “better” parts – and very likely better payment. But if one actor gets an award – and another not: Is the one who don’t receive one a not so good or maybe even a bad actor?

And how often did you read/hear somewhere that an actor received an award this year because last year his work wasn't awarded? 

...

Don't we all know one or more actors/ actresses whose work we adore - and who never won an Academy Award? 

...

If you're interested you can read about all the awardees of Berlinale here.

Have my favourite Award picture:

~ Joanne Woodward and her Oscar - Paul Newman and his Noscar.. ~

We'll see whether I will post again next year about Berlinale again..

Thank you very much for listening,

Yours

 Irene

Day 10 of Berlinale - The Red Dream Factory

Welcome to the almost last post of my Berlinale Mini-Series!

~ Berlinale 2012 ~

One of my favourite parts of Berlinale won't be a surprise for you: The Retrospective programme! It's part of the festival since 1977. "The Retropesctive is always dedicated to an important director or a film history theme"

This year it's called The Red Dream Factory - and it deals with films from a Russian-German film studio: Mezhrabpom Film - and its German branch Prometheus. Especially with it's films from 1922-1936. (well.. I think you know why the Russian/German co-operation didn't go on at some point in history..)

There are many interesting films (- please keep in mind: It's called RED dream factory..) in this programme like:

PESN O GEROJACH/KOMOSOL (SONG OF HEROES) (1932)

KONEZ SANKT-PETERSBURGA (= The End of St. Petersburg) (1927)

source: Berlinale.de

MISS MEND (THE ADVENTURES OF THE THREE REPORTERS) (1926)

WOSSTANIJE RYBAKOW (REVOLT OF THE FISHERMEN) (1934)

~ especially interesting for me because it was directed by German theater legend Erwin Piscator ~

...

- and as bit of a completely different world...

...some Berlinale guests of 1954:

~ Gina Lollobrigida ~

~ Sophia Loren, Yvonne De Carlo (of whom I am a big fan..) and Gina Lollobrigida ~

Thank you very much for listening!

Yours very well and truly

Irene

Day 9 of Berlinale - A bit of Enlightenment..

Welcome again to a new issue of my Berlinale-Mini-Series!

~ Berlinale 2012 ~

I do not know about you - but I think I don't watch enough Scandinavian films. I think I have yet watched about 25. There is a lot to explore in that corner of the world! So the film I'll present today is a Danish one:

EN KONGELIG AFFÆRE (A ROYAL AFFAIR) (2012)

Denmark, ca. 1770: The German doctor Johann Friedrich Struensee (Mads Mikkelsen) is the royal physician of Danish King Christian VII. (Mikkel Følsgaard), who is mentally ill. Struensee not only becomes a minister - but also lover of Queen Caroline Mathilde (Alicia Vikander). 

A scandal - because she gives birth to child.. Doesn't help at all that Struensee is fond of The Enlightenment and tries to carry out widespread reforms - much to the chagrin of higher nobility.. Really? Freedom of opinion?? And no more torture and peonage??? He must be crazy..

~ The Queen, the doctor - and a very little Princess.. ~

This film is based on historical events. Johann Friedrich Struensee was excecuted at the age of 34 - I am not aware if this is part of this film - but I guess it might be.. Actually I am fascinated of the Age of Enlightenment - well.. It was quite an interesting and exciting time. So many changes in sciences and philosophy! So this film of course sparks my interest. When it comes to the actors of this film I think I only know Mads Mikkelsen - and I am quite sure that most people will know him best of this cast. I really have a lot to catch up with there..

So I will present today in the bygone days of Berlinale-part a face who all of you will know - she was the official representative of the US delegation for Berlinale 1962 - and here she is in excersice of her office:

~ The wonderful Shirley MacLaine!!! ~

Thank you very much for listening!

Yours very well and truly

Irene

Day 8 of Berlinale - some pairings..

Hello - and welcome to this new post for my Berlinale mini series!

Berlinale 2012

Today I will present a film which is said to be a mixture of romance and thriller (...)

COMES A BRIGHT DAY ( 2012)

When Sam Smith (Craig Roberts) finally works up the courage to ask Mary Bright (Imogen Poots) wether she would like to go to a concert with him - the fancy jeweller where she is working (and where both of them just are at this moment) is robbed. But the raid isn't very well-organized: Mary's boss Charlie (Timothy Spall) gets hurt - and so is one of the gangsters - and a customer is shot. Soon the police arrives - and a gunfight starts. Now the criminals (one of them is Kevin McKidd) are trapped - together with Sam, Mary and Charlie. And while the thugs try to work out a plan the three hostages will have some time for very private and open talks.

I think this film might be quite interesting - plus it has Timothy Spall - who is just marvellous. I mentioned Imogen Poots before on this blog - very shortly, I am afraid - in my post about the 2011 version of JANE EYRE. I think she has quite a career at the start - her last film before COMES A BRIGHT DAY was FRIGHT NIGHT (2011).. Also Craig Roberts was in JANE EYRE (2011) - and like Imogen Poots' part there it wasn't quite a lovely character.. 

I love this kind of intimate plays where you have a small cast - which has to rely completely on one another. Plus (again..): It has Timothy Spall!

Still I am a bit afraid - because I saw some pictures of this film which give me the impression that this film might be partially quite brutal.. On the other hand those criminals in this film are said to be fond of classic music.. So I have some expectations of the soundtrack..

 But let's end this post with a few pictures of 1959 - when Sophia Loren was visting Berlinale:

~ Sophia Loren and Willy Brandt
- at that time mayor of Berlin - later he became  Federal Chancellor  of West Germany~

~ Sophia Loren and husband Carlo Ponti  - a radiant couple arriving at Berlinale..~

Thank you very much for listening!

Yours 

Irene

Day 7 of Berlinale - and lot's of Bel Amis..

Welcome again! Not too much time left of Berlinale..

~ Berlinale 2012 ~

You might remember: Yesterday I wrote about DIE WAND (THE WALL) which is based on the novel by Marlen Haushofer.  As far as I know there is no other adaptation for the screen besides that one. Well - other books are apparently frequently adapted - like a certain one satirical novel by Guy de Maupassant from 1885..

BEL AMI (2012)

In late 19th century Paris a young - not too lettered but very much self-centered - man (Robert Pattinson) climbs the social ladder - thanks to his luck with women - no matter of their marital status.

The stars of this film are two actors I couldn't care less for: Uma Thurman and Robert Pattinson. Actually I almost decided to not watch this film when I found out that also two of my favourite modern actresses are also starring in it: Kristin Scott Thomas (who in my book is the epitome of a British lady) and Christina Ricci (who I adore).

~ Kristin Scott Thomas - every inch a lady.. ~

The cast also includes the wonderful Colm Meany and Natalia Tena (who some of you might remember as Tonks in the HARRY POTTER films or maybe as Osha from GAME OF THRONES), Philip Glenister (from BBC-adaptation CRANFORD and TV-series ASHES TO ASHES, LIFE ON MARS and MAD DOGS) - and also Pip Torrens (of WAR HORSE (2011), EASY VIRTUE (2008) or MY WEEK WITH MARILYN (2011))..

~ Robert Pattinson looking at Christina Ricci
- who's looking a bit like Helena Bonham Carter.. ~

Besides that - the late 19th century just fascinates me. Yes - I love those dresses - I won't deny that. 

~ Kristin Scott Thomas, Uma Thurman and Christina Ricci
- waiting for Bel Ami  Patterson to make his decision..~

This novel (another one on my to-read-pile..) is as I said not adapted for the first time 

- have a short history of BEL AMI films (not including all..):

The first might be an Italian version of 1919 by director Augusto Genina 

- I didn't find any picture or clip to post - so we go on with the German version of 1939:

~ Olga Tschechowa and Hilde Hildebrand surrounding Willi Forst
- he did not only play the lead: he also wrote the script, directed and produced this film.. ~

Then the version I don't know yet and would love to see:

THE PRIVATE AFFAIRS OF BEL AMI (1947)

~ My beloved George Sanders and the amazing Angela Lansbury!! ~ 

The same year a Mexican version was released - I am yet to see that one, too:

~ EL BUEN MOZO - starring Armando Calvo ~

In 1955 there was an Austrian version released:

~ Johannes Heesters (who passed away on christmas eve 2011 - aged 108 years) and Marianne Schönauer ~

There were of course several adaptations for Telly.. I spare you those.. 

So just a quick picture of bygone days of Berlinale:

~ Charles Aznavour, Eddie Constantine and Sidney Poitier at Berlinale, 1963 ~

Thank you very much for listening!

Yours truly

Irene

Day 6 of Berlinale - a real challenge for me - and a tango for you..

And again: Welcome to a new post about the films of Berlinale which would interest me..

~ Berlinale 2012 ~

There are some things with which I really have troubles to watch them - do you have such things, too?

Things that can make you shy at watching a film which would interest you? 

The film I'll talk about today is such a film. I noticed that I didn't post about a German film at this years Berlinale yet. There is one Austrian/German film which is based on a very successful novel from 1963. I am yet to read the novel - but like in the film there are some points - well.. no: one grave point! - which makes me hesitate to do so.. But first - the film:

DIE WAND (THE WALL) (2012)

A woman (Martina Gedeck) whose name we won't learn and her cousin Luise with her husband Hugo make a trip to a hunting lodge in the mountains. That evening the married couple goes to an inn - the next morning our nameless heroine notices that they're missing - and goes with her dog to look for them. But she and the dog abut against an invisible wall. They can spot a man outside - he seems to be petrified - like he was "dead in the movement".
The woman and her dog can't leave the (really big) area inside the wall - they are as much trapped as apparently saved - because it seems like outside the wall everything is dead. So she has to learn to live on her own - together with some animals who start living with her: of course her dog and beneath others some cats and a pregnant cow. But one day a man appears - and for apparently no reason slays her young bull and her dog..

~ The dog's name in the book and in the film and in "real " is Luchs - which means  "lynx". ~

By now you might know why I can't watch this film. I can't stand animals being misused and not at all I can see how an animal is killed. Something like that really hits me for six. Usually I cry like I was mad.. So I guess I will watch it some day at home - in a secure place so to speak - with my cats being on alert because I am sobbing and trying to hold them.. 

~ you saw this one coming, didn't you? Well - if there are cats in a film.. ~

I think the story is quite interesting - and it is for sure quite a job for an actress to do most of the film appearing as the only human being on screen. The book by Marlen Haushofer (1920-1970) was a great success and was translated into several languages.

~ Marlen Haushofer with her tomcat Iwan, ca. 1955.  source: Kater Paul~

 I like Martina Gedeck very much - she has quite a fascinating voice and appears to be always trying to "push the envelope". Still her acting is in the main kind of low-key - maybe one could call it almost minimalistic but at the same time very dynamic.. 

~ I love this picture.. It looks a lot like summer to me.. ~

So - when I talk of an Austrian/German film I simply have to post some pictures of Austrian/German stars on bygone Berlinale days, haven't I?

Well.. at least one - so here we have the darling of Germany Sonja Ziemann in 1955 - and a very gallant fan kissing her hand - while Argentine actress Ana Maria Lynch is standing next to her. 

~ this picture makes me humming the tango ICH KÜSSE IHRE HAND, MADAME (I am kissing your hand , madame) ~ 

This is instrumental - the text to it contains a refrain that goes like "I am kissing your hand, madame - and I am dreaming it was your mouth.."

Thank you very much for listening!

Yours (very) well and truly

Irene

Day 5 of Berlinale - What's a modern film noir?

Welcome to a new post about Berlinale! Glad that you're still here!

Berlinale 2012

First let's talk a bit (okay: I talk in the most - you listen..) about film noir..

Frankly - what I love most about film noir is that most of them are very, very classy. And actually I have a feeling like this kind of class has vanished long ago. I associate film noir very much with the style of the 1940's - and I might be just driving a cliché here - still: That's about what I think/see for my inner eye when I hear someone talking about film noir - maybe not excatly this scene - but you get the meaning:

~ Dana Andrews and Gene Tierney in LAURA (1944)
-  I adore that film (it's with Vincent Price ... ---- ... )~

For me a film noir hasn't got to be b/w - I think LEAVE HER TO HEAVEN (1945) is a great film noir - in glorious Technicolor.. and it also is one of my favourite films.. 

Maybe film noir isn't so much that what other people call a "film noir" - but what makes you feel it is one.  But I am loosing track.. Back to Berlinale films soon..

So: because I like very much what I consider classic film noir - I am a bit curious about this film I will post about today - which is by and large, well.. "very often" advertised as a "film noir.": 

I, ANNA (2012)

In the early morning - after a single party - Anna (Charlotte Rampling) leaves the apartment of her one-night-stand - and meets detective Bernie (Gabriel Byrne) who is going through a tough divorce - and now about to work on a brutal murder case - in exactly the house Anna is about to leave.. He is fascinated by her - and finally makes contact with her - but the more they are getting into this relationship - the more it seems like she is involved into the murder..

I really like to see this film. It is told from the point of view of Anna - and the cast just sounds amazing: It has not only Charlotte Rampling and Gabriel Byrne but also Eddie Marsan, Hayley Atwell and - please keep calm: Honor Blackman!

The story really sounds like a classic film noir - but I think if I watch this film I won't watch it under this "pre-condition". I won't think "hm.. is this scene/sentence/look adequate to film noir?" - this would spoil the film from the beginning for me - I mean: which modern film could stand up to our memories of film noirs? I do not say that there are no good films made today - I say: It's like comparing a peacock with a flower - both are wonderful - but you can't really compare them. Everything in films has changed: the stars, the looks, the technique, the world. 

Well - it's still Monday here.. Time for another start with a smile picture - this time related to Berlinale:

~ Berlinale 1964: Claudia Cardinale receives a spray of roses  - and gives her lovely smile..~

Thank you very much for listening!

Yours (very well and) truly

Irene