BERLIN 2009 : index page : complete, Tue.2.June (final 6 ‘archive film’ reviews linked)
'OF GREEN WATERS, DANCING HAWKS… AND KOREAN WIVES'
overview report for Tribune magazine (online Thu.12.Mar.)
== LATEST : TUE.2.JUNE : SIX ARCHIVE-FILM REVIEWS ADDED
Mon.1.June : Letters to the President review added
=1= Reviews for The Hollywood Reporter = = = = = = = = =
The Beast Stalker Beeswax
Deep in the Valley Distance
Enraged Sun, Enraged Sky The Exploding Girl
Green Waters Home From Home
Kill Daddy Good Night Marin Blue
Members of the Funeral Mr Governor
Ricky Soul Power
Sweetgrass Tourists (EFM)
bold = recommended
=2= Writings for The Auteurs = = = = = = = = =
* stand-alone reviews: The International and My Dear Enemy
* Sleep-Debt Snatches (at the Auteurs Notebook)
[[1]] The International [[2]] RIP Lux Interior
[[3]] Der Bruno [[4]] My Dear Enemy etc
[[5]] The Dancing Hawk and Green Waters etc
[[6]] sum-up, round-up and shake-down
=3= Order of Merit = = = = = = = = 
9/10 The Dancing Hawk (Poland 1977)
8/10 Green Waters (Argentina 2009)
Home From Home (Germany 2009)
Slow Summer (Austria 1976)
7+/10 Clinch (1978)
7/10 Deep in the Valley; Letters to the President; Little Valentino (1979); My Dear Enemy; Stars of the Day (1966/8)
=4= Alphabetical = = = = = = = = (by English-language title)
> AFTER WINTER COMES SPRING : [6/10] : Winter Ade : East Germany 1988 : Heike MISSELWITZ : 115m : CinemaxX [AWCS public], Tue 10
> ARAYA : [5/10] : Venezuela/France 1959 [restoration 2008/9] : Margot BENACERRAF : 82m : CinemaxX [Forum press], Sat 7
> THE BEAST STALKER : [5/10] : Ching yan aka Beast Stalker : China ('China/Hong Kong') 08 : Dante LAM : 111m : CinemaxX [Forum press], Sat 7 : THR review ("Middling Hong Kong cop-vs-hitman thriller is let down by an excess of coincidence and sentiment.")
> BEESWAX : [5/10] : USA 2009 : Andrew BUJALSKI : 100m : CinemaxX [Forum press], Sun 8 : THR review (" Talky analysis of modern-day relationships and insecurities can't quite shake its self-satisfied air of modish inconsequentiality.")
> BURROWING : [6/10] : Man tanker sitt : Sweden 2009 : Henrik HELLSTROM & Fredrik WENZEL : 76m : CinemaxX [Forum press], Fri 6
> CLINCH : [7+/10] : Schwitzkasten : Austria 1978 : John COOK : 97m : Arsenal [Forum public], Sat 14 – paid ‚¬3 {with thanks to Michael Baute}
> THE DANCING HAWK : [9/10] : Tancazcy jastrzab : Poland 1977 : Grzegorz KROLIEKIEWICZ : 98m : CinemaxX [AWCS public], Wed 11
> DEEP IN THE VALLEY : [7/10] : Yanaka boshoku : Japan 2009 : FUNAHASHI Atsusushi : c125m (advertised as 135m) : CinemaxX [Forum press], Mon 9 : THR review ("Intriguing hybrid of documentary and fiction celebrates a Tokyo community while probing the history and soul of Japan.")
> DISTANCE : [6/10] : Distanz : Germany 2009 : Thomas SIEBEN : 84m : CinemaxX [Perspective Deutsches Kino public], Sat 7 : THR review ("Efficient study of a Berlin serial-killer hits its targets with reasonable accuracy.")
> ENRAGED SUN, ENRAGED SKY : [1/10] : Rabioso sol, rabioso cielo aka Raging Sun, Raging Sky : Mexico 2009 : Julian HERNANDEZ : 191m : International [Panorama public], Fri 13 : THR review ("Excruciating three-hour-plus fable of desire and rebirth must be the most pretentious film of the year.")
> EVERYONE ELSE : [6/10] : Alle Anderen : Germany 2009 : Maren ADE : 119m : Berlinale Palast [Competition public, paid ‚¬11 - with thanks to Zorana Musikic], Mon 9
> THE EXPLODING GIRL : [6/10] : USA 2009 : Bradley Rust GRAY : 79m : CinemaxX [Forum press], Thu 5 : THR review ("Small-scale, effective character study of a young woman struggling to cope with physical and romantic turmoil.")
> GHOSTED : [2?/10] : Germany/Taiwan 2009 : Monika TREUT : 89m : CinemaxX [Panorama press/public], Sat 7 : walkout after 20mins
> GREEN WATERS : [8/10] : Aguas Verdes : Argentina 2009 : Mariano DE ROSA : 89m : CinemaxX [Forum press], Mon 9 : THR review ("Raucously intense tale of family paranoia announces an audacious new talent from Argentina.")
> THE HAPPIEST GIRL IN THE WORLD : [6/10] : Cea mai fericita fata din lume : Romania 2009 : Radu JUDE : 100m : CinemaxX [Forum press], Fri 6
> HOME FROM HOME : [8/10] : Endstation der Sehnsuchte : Germany 2009 : Sung-Hyung CHO : 97m : CineStar [Panorama public/press], Fri 13 : THR review ("This observational culture-clash documentary is a wonderfully warm and entertaining crowd-pleaser.")
> THE INTERNATIONAL : [6/10] : USA/Germany/UK 2009 : Tom TYKWER : 118m : CinemaxX [Out-of-competition press], Thu 5 : The Auteurs Notebook review ("a fast-moving thriller of corporate intrigue and espionage in the Bourne/neo-Bond vein, built around a typically urgent, serious, downbeat performance from Clive Owen, very much back in Children of Men mode.") also online : Tribune review
> JADUP AND BOEL : [4/10] : Jadup und Boel : East Germany 1981/88 : Rainer SIMON : 103m : CinemaxX [AWCS public], Thu 12
> KILL DADDY GOOD NIGHT : [4/10] : Das Vaterspiel : Austria/Germany/France) 2009 (dated 2008) : Michael GLAWOGGER : 117m : CinemaxX [Panorama public], Mon 9 : THR review ("A misfiringly over-ambitious stab at fictional, controversial drama from a master documentarian.")
> LETTERS TO THE PRESIDENT : [7/10] : Canada/Iran 2009 : Petr LOM : 74m : CinemaxX [Forum press], Wed 11
> LITTLE JOE : [6/10] : USA 2009 : Nicole HAEUSSER : 87m : CineStar [Panorama press], Thu 12
> LITTLE VALENTINO : [7/10] : A kis Valentino : Hungary 1979 : JELES Andras : 95m : CinemaxX [AWCS public], Tue 10
> MARIN BLUE : [2/10] : USA 2008 : Matthew HYSELL : 77m : CinemaxX [Forum press], Fri 6 : THR review ("Laughably overcooked tale of directionless, insecure twentysomethings in Los Angeles.")
> MATERIAL : [5?/10] : Germany 2009 : Thomas HEISE : 166m : CinemaxX [Forum press], Tue 10 – walkout after 115m
> MEMBERS OF THE FUNERAL : [5/10] : Jangryesigeui Member : South Korea 2008 : BAEK Seung-Bin : 100m : CinemaxX [Forum press], Wed 11 : THR review ("A blackly comic Korean tale of death, literature and family is undermined by its own cleverness.")
> MENTAL : [5?/10] : Seishin : Japan 2008 : SODA Kazuhiro : 135m : CinemaxX [Forum press], Thu 5 - walkout after 60m
> THE MILK OF SORROW : [5/10] : La teta asustada : Spain/Peru 2009 : Claudia LLOSA : 94m : Berlinale Palast [Competition press], Thu 12
> MR GOVERNOR : [6/10] : H:r Landshovding : Sweden 2008 : Mans MANSSON : 81m : CinemaxX [Forum public], Sun 8 : THR review ("Nicely shot cinema-verite portrait of a veteran Swedish politician manages — just — to make a virtue of its subject-matter's inherent dullness.")
> MY DEAR ENEMY : [7/10] : Meotjin haru : South Korea 2008 : LEE Yoon-Ki : 123m : CinemaxX [Forum press], Sun 8 : Auteurs review (""Ex" finds the spot in "My Dear Enemy", a winningly deadpan comedy of love and social awkwardness…")
> NAKED OF DEFENSES : [5/10] : Mubobi : Japan 2008 : ICHII Masahide : 88m : CinemaxX [Forum press], Tue 10
> RICKY : [6/10] : France 2009 : Francois OZON : 90m : CinemaxX [Competition press], Fri 6 : THR review ("Weird blend of arthouse grit, fable-like fantasy and offbeat comedy doesn't quite come off, but certainly has its moments.")
> SHORT CUT TO HOLLYWOOD : [4/10] : Germany/Austria/USA 2008 : Marcus MITTERMEIER & Jan Henrik STAHLBERG : 94m : CinemaxX [Panorama public], Fri 13
> SLOW SUMMER : [8/10] : Langsamer sommer : Austria 1976 : John COOK : 83m : Arsenal [Forum public], Sat 7
> SOUL POWER : [6/10] : USA 2008 : Jeffrey LEVY-HINTE : 93m : CinemaxX [Forum press], Wed 11 : THR review "Entertaining record of legendary mid-70s concert spectacular is fine — as far as it goes.")
> STARS OF THE DAY : [7/10] : Dnevnye Zvyozdy : USSR 1966/68 : Igor TALANKIN : 94m : International [Retrospective public], Sun 8
> SWEETGRASS : [5+/10] : USA 2009 : Lucien CASTAING-TAYLOR & Ilisa BARBASH : 108m (advertised as 115m) : CinemaxX [Forum press], Thu 12 : THR review ("Slow-paced documentary on sheep, shepherds and their environment needs further shearing.")
nb : all public screenings attended via complimentary tickets.
AWCS = section 'After Winter Comes Spring'
Matthew Tempest guest-reviews
Bellamy and The Grass Is Always Greener Everywhere Else
=5= Getaways == A : By Comparison
B : Doctor Ma's Country Clinic; Double Take; Eccentricities of a Blond Haired Girl; Encirclement; Gigante; In the Electric Mist; Katalin Varga; Love Exposure; Welcome
C : About Elly; Bellamy; Calimucho; Can Go Through Skin; Cheri; Land of Scarecrows; London River; Nord; Pardon My French; Sometime in August; Soundless Wind Chime; Storm; Winter Silence; The Wondrous World of Laundry
=6= last unofficial odds for the Golden Bear
(for information only; FINAL UPDATE Sat 14 Feb at 1330)
~~~~~
9/4 Strickland : Katalin Varga
4/1 Ade : Everyone Else WON Silver Bear (runner-up prize)
~~~~~
9/1 Bouchareb : London River
10/1 Llosa : The Milk of Sorrow WON Golden Bear
10/1 Farhadi : About Elly
~~~~~
12/1 Moodysson : Mammoth
12/1 Schmid : Storm
16/1 Ozon : Ricky
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
20/1 Biniez : Gigante WON Silver Bear (runner-up prize)
20/1 Moverman : The Messenger
25/1 Chen : Forever Enthralled
28/1 Potter : Rage
33/1 Tavernier : In the Electric Mist
33/1 Wajda : Sweet Rush
33/1 Olesen : The Little Soldier
40/1 Frears : Cheri
50/1 Liechtenstein : Happy Tears
66/1 Loncraine : My One and Only
~~~~~
further details of Bruno S's haunt, the Stadtklause, are HERE
=PS= reverse-chronological = = = = = = = =
CLINCH : [7+/10] : Aut 78 : John COOK
Schwitzkasten : 97m : Arsenal [Forum public], Sat 14 – paid ‚¬3 {with thanks to Michael Baute}
======
HOME FROM HOME : [8/10] : Ger 09 : Sung-Hyung CHO
Endstation der Sehnsuchte : 97m : CineStar [Panorama public/press], Fri 13
THR review : ("This observational culture-clash documentary is a wonderfully warm and entertaining crowd-pleaser.")
ENRAGED SUN, ENRAGED SKY : [1/10] : Mex 09 : Julian HERNANDEZ
Rabioso sol, rabioso cielo aka Raging Sun, Raging Sky : 191m : International [Panorama public], Fri 13
THR review : ("Excruciating three-hour-plus fable of desire and rebirth must be the most pretentious film of the year.")
SHORT CUT TO HOLLYWOOD : [4/10] : Ger/Aut/USA 08 : Marcus MITTERMEIER & Jan Henrik STAHLBERG
94m : CinemaxX [Panorama public], Fri 13
- – - – - -
JADUP AND BOEL : [4/10] : E.Ger 81/88 : Rainer SIMON
Jadup und Boel : 103m : CinemaxX [AWCS public], Thu 12
SWEETGRASS : [5+/10] : US 09 : Lucien CASTAING-TAYLOR & Ilisa BARBASH
c108m (advertised as 115m) : CinemaxX [Forum press], Thu 12
THR review : ("Slow-paced documentary on sheep, shepherds and their environment needs further shearing.")
LITTLE JOE : [6/10] : US 09 : Nicole HAEUSSER
87m : CineStar [Panorama press], Thu 12
THE MILK OF SORROW : [5/10] : Spn/Per 09 : Claudia LLOSA
La teta asustada : 94m : Berlinale Palast [Competition press], Thu 12
- – - – -
THE DANCING HAWK : [9/10] : Pol 77 : Grzegorz KROLIEKIEWICZ
Tancazcy jastrzab : 98m : CinemaxX [AWCS public], Wed 11
LETTERS TO THE PRESIDENT : [7/10] : Can/Irn 09 : Peter LOM
74m : CinemaxX [Forum press], Wed 11
MEMBERS OF THE FUNERAL : [5/10] : S.Kor 08 : BAEK Seung-Bin
Jangryesigeui Member : 100m : CinemaxX [Forum press], Wed 11
THR review : ("A blackly comic Korean tale of death, literature and family is undermined by its own cleverness.")
SOUL POWER : [6/10] : US 08 : Jeffrey LEVY-HINTE
93m : CinemaxX [Forum press], Wed 11
THR review ("Entertaining record of legendary mid-70s concert spectacular is fine — as far as it goes.")
- – - – -
AFTER WINTER COMES SPRING : [6/10] : E.Ger 88 : Heike MISSELWITZ
Winter Ade : 115m : CinemaxX [AWCS public], Tue 10
LITTLE VALENTINO : [7/10] : Hun 79 : Andras JELES
A kis Valentino : 95m : CinemaxX [AWCS public], Tue 10
NAKED OF DEFENSES : [5/10] : Jpn 08 : ICHII Masahide
Mubobi : 88m : CinemaxX [Forum press], Tue 10
MATERIAL : [5?/10] : Ger 09 : Thomas HEISE
166m : CinemaxX [Forum press], Tue 10 – walkout after 115m
—
GREEN WATERS : [8/10] : Arg 09 : Mariano DE ROSA
Aguas Verdes : 89m : CinemaxX [Forum press], Mon 9
THR review : ("Raucously intense tale of family paranoia announces an audacious new talent from Argentina.")
EVERYONE ELSE : [6/10] : Ger 09 : Maren ADE
Alle Anderen : 119m : Berlinale Palast [Competition public, ‚¬11], Mon 9
KILL DADDY GOODNIGHT : [4/10] : Aut(/Ger/Fr) 09 (dated 08) : Michael GLAWOGGER
Das Vaterspiel : 117m : CinemaxX [Panorama public], Mon 9
THR review : ("A misfiringly over-ambitious stab at fictional, controversial drama from a master documentarian.")
DEEP IN THE VALLEY : [7/10] : Jpn 09 : FUNAHASHI Atsusushi
Yanaka boshoku : 125m (advertised as 135m) : CinemaxX [Forum press], Mon 9
THR review ("Intriguing hybrid of documentary and fiction celebrates a Tokyo community while probing the history and soul of Japan.")
—
MR GOVERNOR : [6/10] : Swe 08 : Mans MANSSON
H:r Landshovding : 81m : CinemaxX [Forum public], Sun 8 Feb
THR review ("Nicely shot cinema-verite portrait of a veteran Swedish politician manages — just — to make a virtue of its subject-matter's inherent dullness.")
STARS OF THE DAY : [7/10] : USSR 66/68 : Igor TALANKIN
Dnevnye Zvyozdy : 94m : International [Retrospective public], Sun 8 Feb
BEESWAX : [5/10] : US 09 : Andrew BUJALSKI
100m : CinemaxX [Forum press], Sun 8 Feb
THR review : (" Talky analysis of modern-day relationships and insecurities can't quite shake its self-satisfied air of modish inconsequentiality.")
MY DEAR ENEMY : [7/10] : S.Kor 08 : LEE Yoon-Ki
Meotjin haru : 123m : CinemaxX [Forum press], Sun 8 Feb
Auteurs review (""Ex" finds the spot in "My Dear Enemy", a winningly deadpan comedy of love and social awkwardness…")
—
DISTANCE : [6/10] : Ger 09 : Thomas SIEBEN
Distanz : 84m : CinemaxX [Perspective Deutsches Kino public], Sat 7 Feb
THR review ("Efficient study of a Berlin serial-killer hits its targets with reasonable accuracy.")
THE BEAST STALKER : [5/10] : Chi ('Chi/HK') 08 : Dante LAM
Ching yan aka Beast Stalker : 111m : CinemaxX [Forum press], Sat 7 Feb
THR review ("Middling Hong Kong cop-vs-hitman thriller is let down by an excess of coincidence and sentiment.")
SLOW SUMMER : [8/10] : Aut 76 : John COOK
Langsamer sommer : 83m : Arsenal [Forum public], Sat 7 Feb
ARAYA : [5/10] : Ven/Fr 59 : Margot BENACERRAF
82m : CinemaxX [Forum press], Sat 7 Feb
—
THE HAPPIEST GIRL IN THE WORLD : [6/10] : Rom 09 : Radu JUDE
Cea mai fericita fata din lume : 100m : CinemaxX [Forum press], Fri 6 Feb
RICKY : [6/10] : Fr 09 : Francois OZON
90m : CinemaxX [Competition press], Fri 6 Feb
THR review ("Weird blend of arthouse grit, fable-like fantasy and offbeat comedy doesn't quite come off, but certainly has its moments.")
BURROWING : [6/10] : Swe 09 : Henrik HELLSTROM & Fredrik WENZEL
Man tanker sitt : 76m : CinemaxX [Forum press], Fri 6 Feb
MARIN BLUE : [2/10] : USA 08 : Matthew HYSELL
77m : CinemaxX [Forum press], Fri 6 Feb
THR review ("Laughably overcooked tale of directionless, insecure twentysomethings in Los Angeles.")
—
THE EXPLODING GIRL : [6/10] : USA 09 : Bradley Rust GRAY
79m : CinemaxX [Forum press], Thu 5 Feb
THR review ("Small-scale, effective character study of a young woman struggling to cope with physical and romantic turmoil.")
THE INTERNATIONAL : [6/10] : USA/Ger 09 : Tom TYKWER
118m : CinemaxX [Out-of-competition press], Thu 5 Feb
The Auteurs Notebook review : ("a fast-moving thriller of corporate intrigue and espionage in the Bourne/neo-Bond vein, built around a typically urgent, serious, downbeat performance from Clive Owen, very much back in Children of Men mode.")
Tribune review
— — —
nb : all public screenings attended via complimentary tickets.
AWCS = section 'After Winter Comes Spring'
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