Berlinale 2022: amid the restrictions due to COVID-19, the 72nd edition began

The first great film festival of the year kicked off on Thursday 10 February in Berlin with the firm intention of opening the doors to the public, with caution, and reconciling commercial cinema with that of author.

The Berlinalea contest that is proud to be open to the public, this year it has cut its duration to six days. And the capacity of the rooms is reduced, and reservations are required.

“The role of the Berlinale is to declare that there is no gap” between commercial and auteur cinema, Japanese filmmaker Ryusuke Hamaguchi declared at a press conference, an opinion shared by other members of the jury, chaired by filmmaker Night Shyamalan.

“When you look at the history (of cinema), there was no gap between the two categories,” added Hamaguchi, one of the figures of current Japanese cinema, whose most recent film, “Drive My Car” has just received four Oscar nominations.

The 72nd edition of the German festival kicked off with a particular tribute by the French director François Ozon to the maestro Rainer Werner Fassbinder, and his film “The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant”, from 1972, which premiered precisely at the Berlinale.

Ozon, 54, signs an adaptation of the classic renamed “Peter von Kant.” The film takes place in a sumptuously decorated home, very much in the style of other works by the French director.

Hanna Schygulla, the German actress now 78 years old, returns to appear in a film that elevated her half a century ago. She shares the billboard with Denis Menochet and Isabelle Adjani.

All of them “locked up” with Ozon to shoot this film, in the midst of a pandemic, the director explained at a press conference.

For this version, instead of a man-eating Petra, Ozon opts for the figure of a film director who falls in love with a young actor.

“A director has to ask himself how he uses his power. So I used this text to ask these questions, myself and the audience”, he explained.

Tribute to Isabelle Huppert

Few stars are expected at the Berlinale. The French Isabelle Huppert, an actress who has stood out for her risky or controversial roles, will receive an award for her entire career.

A total of 18 films compete in the official competition, among them the Spanish “Alcarrás”, by Clara Simón, “One year, one night”, by the Spanish director Isaki Lacuesta, about the Islamist attacks in Paris in 2015, and “Mantle of gems”, by the Mexican Natalia López Gallardo.

The Berlinale was held entirely online last year, a format that disappointed critics and fans alike.

This year the contest “an exercise in resistance”, in the words of its artistic director, Carlo Chatrian.

In addition to the French Ozon, other well-known directors compete for the Golden Bear, such as the French Claire Denis (“Avec amour et acharnement”), Ursula Meier (“The Line”) or the South Korean Hong Sangsoo (“So-Seol-Ga- Ui Yeong-Hwa”).

The Italian Dario Argento, an already legendary name in suspense cinema, directs his daughter Asia, who last year revealed her traumatic beginnings as an actress in a book. The film, out of competition, is called “Occhiali Neri”.

The Berlinale gives ample space to experimental films and new cinematographic values, with various competitions parallel to the official competition.

The Mexican film “El Norte sobre el emptío” premiered for the press in the Panorama sectionwhere the Spanish “Cinco lobitos” also competes.

“The North over the void”, by Alejandra Márquez Abella”, explains the case of rancher Don Reynaldo, in northern Mexico. His property and his health are declining, but he has family by his side. Until some extortionists appear at the door of his house demanding money if he wants to avoid problems.

The Brazilian “Mato seco em chamas”, halfway between documentary and fiction, also deals with the violence that is rampant in that country, and competes in the Forum section, like the Chilean “El Veterano”. (I)