I suppose everyone is expecting a Berlinale post, but I didn´t get to see any of the winning films, so I suppose it´s better to read about Barbara, Tabu, Csak a szél or Cesare deve morire in the newspapers.
Instead I decided to focus this week’s post on something entirely different: carnival. I´m from Cologne, and although it isn´t Rio, carnival is huge there. We dress up, we go to pubs, we dance on the table, and after six crazy days the entire city has one massive hangover. Finding a new costume each year is quite a challenge, and because angels, devils or policemen become boring after a while, people often seek for inspiration in films. Common costumes are cartoon characters like Alice in Wonderland, Snow White, Spiderman or Donald Duck. But there are also great costumes in real life films…
The Addams Family (D: Barry Sonnenfeld, USA 1991)
Every year my good friend Anna tries to convince our friends to dress up Addams-family-style. In the end we always say: “Next year”! But maybe we´ll at least manage to watch this film with Christina Ricci and Anjelica Houston sometime this year.
The Big Lebowski (D: Joel and Ethan Coen, USA 1998)
The Dude. I am wondering whether there is a more comfortable costume than this. Shorts, a bathrobe and a white fine rib vest is all it takes – and you´re ready to go. Although you might not be able to find the trade drink white russian in most carnival bars, this is definitely a great choice.
Clockwork Orange (D: Stanley Kubrick, USA 1971)
Kubrick’s classic about the youth gang Droogs seems to be a weird choice, but every year I see a number of guys with one eye painted black dressed up as Alex. The film shows him leading the brutal gang before being sent to prison. After his rehabilitation, he tries to find his way back into society – which finally leads to a suicide attempt. Kubrick stages the adaptation of Anthony Burgess´s novel in a highly stylistic manner. The brutality is almost aesthetically, and Alex´s voice over makes the spectator somehow sympathize with him.
The Great Dictator (D: Charlie Chaplin, USA 1940)
With his hat and walking stick Charlie Chaplin climbed the film olympus effortlessly. This highly political film, which was released in 1940, is a satire on Hitler and national socialism. It tells the story of dictator Adenoid Hynkel and his reign over Tomania. In the end, a Jewish hairdresser gives the final speech instead of the horrible dictator.
Mermaids (D: Richard Benjamin, USA 1990)
Winona Ryder is Charlotte, Christina Ricci her little sister Kate and Cher her free spirited mother Rachel. The three keep relocating whenever Rachel’s relationships end. But this time Charlotte also falls in love. It´s a cute story about coming of age, love and a single mom. Not only the characters provide inspiration for carnival, but also the dress up party the three ladies have from time to time…
