Lanzmann’s epic Holocaust documentary “Shoah” — now more than ever

Claude Lanzmann driving a car at the entrance to the Polish village of Treblinka in July, 1978 during the filming of his documentary "Shoah"French director Claude Lanzmann's Holocaust documentary “Shoah”, first released 40 years ago, had a one-time screening in its 9 1/2-hour entirety at the Berlinale film festival this week that underscored why, as…Read more Lanzmann’s epic Holocaust documentary “Shoah” — now more than ever

Pattinson works double time in sci-fi satire “Mickey 17” at Berlinale

It's not often that a science fiction film comes along that deals with serious themes like dictatorship, human rights and extermination of indigenous populations and also manages to be laugh aloud funny. Such a film is “Mickey 17”, which had its world premiere, out of competition, at the Berlinale film festival on Saturday. It stars…Read more Pattinson works double time in sci-fi satire “Mickey 17” at Berlinale

Chalamet warns against “cult-like” leaders, Swinton descries “mass murder” at Berlinale

French-American actor Timothy Chalamet warned against the danger of following "cult-like" leaders while Scottish actress Tilda Swinton descried what she called "internationally enabled mass murder", delivering powerful messages in appearances at the Berlinale film festival. Chalamet, who stars in the Oscar-tipped Bob Dylan bio-pic “A Complete Unknown”, told a packed press conference at the Berlinale…Read more Chalamet warns against “cult-like” leaders, Swinton descries “mass murder” at Berlinale

“Hot Milk” at Berlinale: Fiona Shaw, Emma Mackey as dueling mother-daughter

Vicky Krieps as Ingrid and Emma Mackey as Sofia in "Hot Milk" If you were a 25-year-old woman who'd put her life on hold to care for her wheelchair-bound mother, what would you do if at the end of a costly cure for which your mother mortgaged the family house, she said the pain in…Read more “Hot Milk” at Berlinale: Fiona Shaw, Emma Mackey as dueling mother-daughter

“Das Licht” opens 75th Berlinale with an immigrant puzzler — and tale of the supernatural

With immigrants as a central theme, plus a nod to Jordan Peele's “Get Out”and musical numbers staged on Berlin streets that could come from an ABBA film, German director Tom Tykwer's “Das Licht” (The Light) opened the 75th Berlinale film festival on Thursday with an enigma. Which side of the intensely controversial issue of wholesale…Read more “Das Licht” opens 75th Berlinale with an immigrant puzzler — and tale of the supernatural

Berlinale Jury Head Haynes Slams Trump — on Day One!

American director Todd Haynes, the president of the international jury of the 75th Berlinale, said on Thursday that the United States is “in a state of particular crisis” under President Donald Trump as jury member after jury member decried the global rise of the right wing as a threat to filmmakers everywhere. More than living…Read more Berlinale Jury Head Haynes Slams Trump — on Day One!

Diop’s “Dahomey” about looted African art takes Berlinale gold

Senegalese-French director Mati Diop on the red carpet at Berlinale Senegalese-French director Mati Diop's film “Dahomey” about African treasures looted by French colonial forces and returned to the West African country of Benin after 130 years, won the top Golden Bear prize for best film at the 74th Berlinale festival on Saturday. “We can either…Read more Diop’s “Dahomey” about looted African art takes Berlinale gold

“La Cocina” looks at illegal immigrants through a kitchen lens

Rooney Mara as Julia and Raúl Briones as Pedro in "La Cocina" Once in a while a film comes along that is so audacious and outrageous it takes your breath away. One such was the 2014 Argentine film “Wild Tales”, a series of vignettes in one of which two male drivers fight to their deaths…Read more “La Cocina” looks at illegal immigrants through a kitchen lens

Classical music in the spotlight at Berlinale

The orphanage orchestra that plays a pop tune for the Pope in "Gloria" Classical music is often thought to have little place in today's arts and culture scene, but filmmakers at the Berlinale can't seem to get enough of it. Three films at this year's festival have classical music as central plot elements, and two…Read more Classical music in the spotlight at Berlinale