Lessons from the Berlin Film Festival

 There’s been an interesting swing in topics notable among entries for the Berlin Film Festival this year. Combined with a return to live to screen, something that’s very much against the current trend, it makes for an interesting and poignant mix. Brandon Blake, our local entertainment attorney, takes a look. 


                                                           Brandon Blake

Make Love, not Politics?

The Berlin Film Festival has something of a reputation for hard-hitting, often political, dramas. Yet this year we see a theme that’s far from it, describable only as ‘love’ and all the happy times it promises. We’ve even seen artistic director, Carlo Chatrian, acknowledge it as he read out nominees "Never before have we seen and welcomed so many love stories as this year: crazy, improbable, unexpected and intoxicating love." The intent, it seems, is to help foster better social bonds, after a tough two years of lockdown.

Slimmed Down Field

The 2022 event will be returning to live screenings, after 2021’s online-only festival. We still see only 18 films nominated, in a slimmer field that never-the-less still looks intriguing. Much of the return to the theater is based on the better theatrical experience, especially being able to bounce off of the atmosphere among your peers.


The Berlin Film Festival, or Berlinale, has been around since 1951 and has been typically seen as the most political of the major film festivals. So the volte face is a little surprising. Not that all of that spirit has been abandoned. We do see Call Jane hit the screen at a time where access to abortion rights is as controversial as it’s ever been. Likewise, one would hardly call a new retelling of Peter von Kant full of love and whimsy. Other key entries include About Joan, Against the Ice, and Dark Glasses, from Italian horror director Dario Argento

It’s a fascinating shakeup to this classic of the Film Festival circuit. Blake & Wang P.A will be watching the event with interest.


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