This year marks the 75th edition of the Berlin International Film Festival, often referred to simply as Berlinale. It’s set to be a star-studded 11 days of cinema with festival favourite Tilda Swinton announced to collect an Honorary Golden Bear award and Oscar nominee Timothée Chalamet in attendance to celebrate the German premiere of James Mangold’s Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown. I will be covering the event for the very first time, and have picked out five pieces from the programme that I have my eye on…
Blue Moon
Acclaimed director Richard Linklater is known for reflecting the passage of time through his lens with films such as Boyhood or his beloved Before trilogy, but his latest picture focuses on a singular snapshot of history. Musical drama Blue Moon centres around one emotional evening in the life of Broadway lyricist Lorenz Hart, portrayed by the filmmaker’s regular collaborator Ethan Hawke. The supporting cast includes Margaret Qualley, Andrew Scott, and Bobby Cannavale.
Heldin (Late Shift)
Continuing a recent run of form that includes great performances in The Teachers’ Lounge and September 5, actor Leonie Benesch stars as a nurse named Floria that comes under intense pressure in Heldin. Written and directed by Petra Volpe, the pressure-cooker plot looks to be in the same nerve-racking ballpark as the likes of Uncut Gems, Surge, Full Time, and Boiling Point.
Lesbian Space Princess
Following a string of sold out previews, this Australian animated comedy is the debut of directing duo Emma Hough Hobbs and Leela Varghese and comes hotly anticipated. Inspired by the filmmakers’ own lives, the film is a celebration of the LGBTQI community and focuses on self-worth, self-love, and being comfortable in your own company.
Mickey 17
Part of Berlinale’s Special Gala strand, the latest feature from visionary director Bong Joon-ho [Snowpiercer, Parasite] will finally reach our screens after many delays. The black comedy sci-fi is based on Edward Ashton’s novel and stars Robert Pattinson as a man that signs up to be an expendable clone on a human colony. The stacked cast includes Naomi Ackie, Steven Yeun, Toni Collette, Mark Ruffalo, Holliday Grainger, and Thomas Turgoose.
Hot Milk
Upcoming drama Hot Milk marks the directorial debut of decorated British playwright Rebecca Lenkiewicz whose screenwriting credits include Ida, Collette, and She Said. Based on the novel of the same name by Deborah Levy, the plot follows a mother-and-daughter, played by Fiona Show and Emma Mackay, who travel to the sun-soaked Spanish town of Almería to find a cure to a mysterious illness.
Cinema Perspective 