The feature film “Drømmer” (German title: “Oslo Stories: Dreams”) The Norwegian director Dag Johan Haubereud won the Golden Bear of the Berlinale. The film festival in Berlin announced this. The coming-of-age story tells of a young woman who falls in love with her teacher.
The feelings of 17-year-old Johanne (Ella Øgere) are not returned. Inspired by her mother and grandmother, she processes her fantasies and lovesickness to a novel. “Drømmer” (international title: “Dreams”) is the third part of a trilogy from Hauberud that deals with love and sexuality.
Radu Jude is alluding to elections – and Leni Riefenstahl
The Romanian Radu Jude, who won the Golden Bear in 2021, received a silver bear for the script for “Continental ’25”.
Jew became political in his acceptance speech. He hoped that the International Court of Justice in Haag will “do his job against all these murdering bastards,” he said. He did not explain what he refers to. There was a lot of applause and cheers from the audience.
“And because tomorrow the elections will also be here in Germany, I just hope that the next festival will not open with the” Triumph of will “by Leni Riefenstahl next year next year.” It is a Nazi propaganda film, which was premiered in 1935.
Film about Hamas-Geisel will be the best documentary
The best documentary was “Holding Liat” by Brandon Kramer, who tells of the former Hamas-Geisel Liat Beinin Atzili and her family. Kramer said on the stage that the team got a “rare window” into the soul of a family that had to deal with their conflicts. The family wanted to stick to their lover and at the same time sought for a peaceful future for Israelis and Palestinians.
Many advised to tell such a story because they did not fit into a simple category, the director explained. But this is exactly the reason why she has to be told.
“Telling the nuances of a family that has to negotiate the different positions – their grief and their empathy for others – felt universal and more urgent than ever,” said Kramer.
In 2024, “No Other Land” of a Palestinian-Israeli team was named the best documentary. He revolves around the expulsion of Palestinians in the villages of Masafer Jatta south of Hebron in West Bank.
The winners’ speech triggered a scandal last year. The Israeli filmmaker Yuval Abraham, who was awarded the Palestinian Basel Adra for “No Other Land”, spoke on stage of a “situation of apartheid”, in the hall there was applause.
The filmmakers were subsequently accused one-sided positioning in the Middle East conflict and sometimes anti-Semitism because they gave the terrorist massacre of Islamist Hamas on Israelis of October 7, 2023.
Speeches about “bombing” on children
It also became political at Meryam Joobur, jury member of the new Perspective section. There won “The Devil Smokes (and Saves the Burnt Matches in the Same Box)” by director Ernesto Martínez Bucio. The film is about childhood.
Meryam Joobur said: “In recent times and in the present we witnessed how men and women looked through the lens of a sniper rifle, upside down and the heart of a child. We saw the annihilation of thousands of children and journalistic forces were dismissed as pure collateral damage. “
Joobeur remained in her statement, mentioned no concrete conflict or war, such as in Gaza, but said: “We saw how smiling elected officials for bombing at schools and hospitals, we have signed as if they had signed birthday cards or thanks.”
“Sherlock” star Andrew Scott and Rose Byrne awarded
The Australian Rose Byrne accepted the silver bear for the best acting performance in a leading role for “if i had legs i’d kick you”. Irish Andrew Scott (“Sherlock”) was honored for his supporting role in the “Blue Moon” chamber game. He thanked the video message.
The great price of the jury went to the poetic feature film “O último Azul” (“The Blue Trail”) by the Brazilian director Gabriel Mascaro. The elegant family saga “El Mensaje” (“The Message”) of the Argentine director Iván Fund received the prize of the jury. The Chinese filmmaker Huo Meng received the award for the best director for his social panorama “Sheng XI Zhi di” (“Living the Land”).
The creative ensemble of “La Tour de Glace” (“The Ice Tower”) was honored for an outstanding artistic achievement. Last year, Mati Diop’s predatory art documentary “Dahomey” won the Golden Bear.
