The Berlinale, Berlin’s international film festival, usually takes place in February, when everyone is packed away in jackets and the weather is cold enough that you hope the stars on the red carpet are wearing something thermal underneath all the silk and jewels. But the world was busy coming to an end this year, so the viewing program was closed to the public; the only people that got to see the films during the winter were a handful of industry professionals.
This week, the city is preparing itself for a different kind of Berlinale – the festival is taking over freiluftkinos (open-air cinemas) all over Berlin, and the city’s throngs of cinephiliacs will finally have the chance to kick back in front of the big screen. Whether the films will have the same effect under the summer sky that they would in the tweedy silence of a proper movie theater remains to be seen. One thing we can count on is an exquisite selection of films from some of the most exciting minds in contemporary cinema.
Sleek has put together a list of the ten most talked-about films in this year’s festival competition. Every year the Berlinale brings plenty to get excited about; this year’s outdoor locations, which include the Charlottenburg palace, Museum Island, and the HKW, promise to make this one particularly unique.
Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn – Comedy/Drama, directed by Radu Jude (Romania)
Winner of the 2021 Golden Bear, the top award at the Berlinale. This movie, which rotates around a leaked sex tape, provoked mixed critical reviews, so it’s a safe bet if you like to take risks.
A Cop Movie – Drama, directed by Alonzo Ruiz Palacios (Mexico)
Winner of the Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Contribution. Palacios wowed judges with a blend of documentary and drama about life as a police officer in Mexico City.
I’m Your Man – Sci-fi, directed by Maria Schrader (Germany)
A feature-length film from the director of the acclaimed Netflix series Unorthodox. A story about a scientist and a humanoid robot that has also been labeled a “rom-com,” but, like, a smart rom-com.
Language Lessons – Drama, directed by Natalie Morales (USA)
A debut for Morales about a friendship between a language teacher in Costa Rica and one of her students. Almost the whole film takes place on laptop screens, which seems apropos for the Covid era.
Mr. Bachmann and His Class – Documentary, directed by Maria Speth (Germany)
Silver Bear Jury Prize Winner. A long documentary about a secondary-school teacher that nevertheless managed to gain overwhelmingly positive reviews. A breath of fresh air in a time when optimism isn’t easy to come by.
Petite Maman – Drama, directed by Celine Sciamma (France)
A critics’ darling despite not being graced with one of the festival’s top awards. Sciamma worked with eight-year-old twin sisters to tell a story of a girl who goes back in time to meet her mother when she was the same age.
Taste – Drama, directed by Lê Bảo (Vietnam)
An art-house boutique about a football player from Nigeria living in Saigon. Jarring visual poetry from the young Vietnamese director.
Tina – Documentary/Music, directed by Daniel Lindsay and T.J. Martin (USA)
Tina Turner! Yes! A cinematic feast for music lovers, this documentary has been lauded for the clarity and integrity with which it tells the story of the great American singer.
What Do We See When We Look at the Sky? – Drama, directed by Aleksandre Koberidze (Georgia)
Has anyone else been getting an urge to visit Georgia? This film has been described as a fairytale and a romance but not a fairytale romance – think more in the vein of modern day magical realism.
Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy – Drama, directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi (Japan)
Winner of the Silver Bear Jury Prize. A triptych of encounters between women which has been described as Hamaguchi’s finest work yet. Three short films form an ode to the power of acting, storytelling, and coincidence.