Berlinale 2024: Political cinema wins
Published: Sunday, Feb 25th 2024, 06:00
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The 74th Berlinale remained true to itself right up to the finale: the film festival presented its awards with political messages. For the second time in a row, a documentary film won the most important prize, the Golden Bear, on Saturday evening: "Dahomey" by French-born director Mati Diop. Her film deals with the restitution of art treasures that were looted from the West African country of Benin, then known as Dahomey, in 1892.
In "Dahomey", the 41-year-old with Senegalese roots follows 26 statues on their journey from France to their country of origin. Around 130 years ago, thousands of works of art were stolen that are still in France today.
Restitution of art objects has long been an issue - also in Germany
The experimental documentary captivates with poetic passages - for example, one of the artworks speaks off-screen several times. One part of the film shows a discussion in Benin among predominantly young people. They argue about whether the restitution should be seen as progress or as post-colonial arrogance. Current problems in the country such as poverty and the lack of education are also discussed.
The return of art objects has long been an issue in France and Germany. In 2018, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that the 26 objects would be returned to Benin. The artifacts include statues, jewelry and a throne. Beninese President Patrice Talon spoke out in favor of the restitution of further works. According to estimates, Europe is hoarding more than 90 percent of Africa's cultural heritage. "Giving back means practicing justice," said Diop as she accepted the award.
People dream of my film: Award winner Matthias Glasner
Several Silver Bears were also awarded. One went to German director Matthias Glasner for the screenplay of his emotionally charged drama "Sterben". In the film starring Corinna Harfouch and Lars Eidinger, the director dealt with the complex relationship with his family. Glasner was worried beforehand that the drama might be too personal.
But many people were moved by it. "I've really been stopped every few meters for days by people who say: 'Great film, it touched me so much, I'm dreaming about it'," Glasner told the German Press Agency on Saturday evening. He added: "Somehow it was worth it, that when you open yourself up so much, others open up too".
"I don't understand what you see in my movie" - veteran director Hong Sangsoo
The Grand Jury Prize went to the melancholy comedy "Yeohaengjaui pilyo" ("A Traveler's Needs") by veteran South Korean director Hong Sangsoo, starring Isabelle Huppert. "I don't understand what you see in my movie," Sangsoo said visibly modestly to the jury on stage.
Romanian-American actor Sebastian Stan was named Best Actor in a Leading Role for his performance in the tragicomedy "A Different Man". The British actress Emily Watson received the award for best supporting role in "Small Things Like These". The 57-year-old came on stage with a crutch due to a broken foot.
Frenchman Bruno Dumont received the Jury Prize for the sci-fi parody "L'Empire". Nelson Carlos De Los Santos Arias won the Silver Bear for Best Director for "Pepe", an experimental film about a dead hippopotamus in Colombia. Austrian cinematographer Martin Gschlacht was honored for his outstanding artistic achievement in the historical drama "The Devil's Bath".
Protest note on the stage
This year's Berlinale was particularly characterized by political debates - many filmmakers had already protested against right-wing extremism at the opening gala. Others called for an end to the fighting in Gaza between Israel and the terrorist organization Hamas. At the awards ceremony, several people on stage carried a piece of paper with the words "Ceasefire Now" written on it.
Palestinian filmmaker Basel Adra called on Germany to stop supplying weapons to Israel. Adra made the documentary "No Other Land" with three other filmmakers and won the documentary film prize for it. The film is about the displacement of Palestinians in the villages of Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron in the West Bank.
New Berlinale head from April
"I can hardly remember times that were so political," said actor Eidinger after the award ceremony. It would be "fatal if that were to be completely ignored or excluded for an event like this."
The Berlinale has always been considered the most political of the world's biggest film festivals. In 2023, the documentary "Sur l'Adamant" won the Golden Bear. This was the fifth and last Berlinale for the management duo Mariette Rissenbeek and Carlo Chatrian. Tricia Tuttle will take over in April. The US-American sat beaming in the audience at the award ceremony. The festival ends on Sunday with an audience day.
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