Films entertain and take us to another world. They move and sometimes motivate to rethink, review and possibly even adjust the way we look at the world. Starting next Tuesday I will present new films, films on current topics or films for a certain mood each week. But I wanted to start by introducing myself first. I would have described myself differently yesterday than I would today, so I decided to use films that changed me instead of static verbs.
Whenever I walk into a cinema I get really calm and as soon as the film starts I forget about the world surrounding me and are all-alone with the flickering images. Some films really got a hold of me and released me back into my world with a truly new perspective. I remember all four situations very clearly and like to think back, but all films I do not want to watch again. Out of fear of ruining the memory, respect for the momentum back then and the presumption that the catharsis cannot be reproduced. Strictly subjective the selection might leave you with an impression of who I am and certainly hint at what you can expect on Tuesdays on iHeartBerlin.
See this week’s selection after the jump.
The Wrestler – At the end of my semester at NYU, I saw this film on the big screen and just could not calm myself for days. Beautifully directed by Darren Aronofsky and seemingly written for Mickey Rourke, lonely, broken Wrester Robin broke my heart. Although Robin tries to live a life without the fame, he rather risks his life than renounce the public recognition.
Synecdoche, New York – It was the second film I saw in a wonderful old Theatre on a snowy night in Vancouver. Over decades Director Caden Cotard (Philip Seymour Hoffman) tries to stage a reproduction of New York and his own life. The sentence: „There are no extras in the world. They are all leads in their own stories!“ stayed with me in that icy night and ever since.
4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days – Due to the two main awards at the filmfestival in Cannes, the Vienna film Festival Viennale had no problem filling every last seat in the massive Gartenbaukino. When the film began it got super quiet and even throughout the final credits nobody moved. The audience was literally stuck to their seats and we needed way more than one drink before we could speak about something else but how far friendship should go.
Flight of the red balloon – Another Viennale Experience, my friend couldn´t understand my tears after this slow drama at first. A hectic mom (Juliette Binoche) and patient Au pair take care of little Simon and his red balloon. My interpretation of the childs fascinating view of the world, which we clearly lack, made my friend a fan of this film after all. And whenever we see a plastic bag floating through the air or an especially beautiful beam of sunlight, we both think of this film and stop for a moment.
