A year after the critique, cheers for Maren Ade’s “Toni Erdmann” is dedicated to Cannes, the German Film more attention. And Hollywood star Diane Kruger in the new Film of Fatih Akin, the German debut.
Although he has been excellent with none of the highest Film-trophies, “Toni Erdmann” a public and critical favorite. From Cannes, he entered the last year of his worldwide success, which culminated in the nomination for the best foreign language Oscar, and the awards ceremony for five European film awards.
The German contributions at the Festival in Cannes this year: Fatih Akin running with his new Thriller “Out of nowhere” in the competition. Hamburg, terrorists, NSU and a vendetta… The Screening of the film by German-Turkish Director on Friday is eagerly awaited.
“Toni Erdmann”: no Golden palm, but a lot of applause
“Out of Nothing” is akin’s first appearance on the Côte d’azur since 2007, when he was “On the other hand” the prize for Best screenplay. In addition, another German Film competes for a Festival: “Western” of Valeska Grisebach is shown in the section “Un certain regard”.
Policy plays a subtle way
Furthermore, five German co-productions are in competition for the Palme d’or: Michael Haneke’s French language Film “Happy ending”, “Loveless” (orig. Nelyubov) by the Russian Director Andrei Swjaginzew, the Swedish art-world Satire “The Square” and the fantastic Thriller “Jupiter’s Moon” by the Hungarian Kornél Mundruczó.
At the German reception in the Villa Rothschild, the state Minister for Culture Monika Grütters brought your Proud of this year’s German participation: “We had a strong Year this year,” said the politician. So there would be 16 films with German participation. “Toni Erdmann we are particularly happy to have a great female Director in the competition,” said Monika Grütters, who was alluding to Valeska Grisebach.
Grisebachs Film “Western” tells the story of a group of German builders for a job in a small Bulgarian village. It Grisebach used by many Western elements. In contrast to what is expected of Fatih akin’s Film, treated Grisebachs Film political issues in a subtle – like a lot of movies this year. “The Western Genre is very conservative but modern at the same time,” says the Director. “It’s always a matter of social principle questions: Where is your place? You stick to the rules? It deals with questions of compassion and the law of the jungle.”
“Western” by the German Director Valeska Grisebach is shown in the section “Un certain regard”
German Film for greater support – at home and abroad
“These are very strong performances,” said Grütters thrilled. The Film is a Prime example of German author cinema. “Germany is politically important, especially when it comes to global perspectives. The power of the German Film important. It shows the current political and social problems,” she explains. In the process, they also referred to the influence of the German film promotion, whose contributions were recently increased significantly. This is Central, precisely because of the German Film is on the international stage increasingly present.
“The raised budget to help, so the filmmakers can do their thing. In addition, major international film companies in Germany produce their films and large film companies do not have to go abroad. The are two important signals to our filmmakers,” says grütter.
Diane Kruger in her first German Film
In Fatih akin’s Drama, the German-born Hollywood actress Diane Kruger plays the main role: she plays a woman who loses her husband in a terrorist attack. It is, somewhat surprisingly, the first Film, the 40-Year-old plays in their native language.
On the question of whether the German film landscape since “Toni Erdmann” said Fatih Akin without Hesitation: “Yes, definitely! Maren Ade has had a huge impact – and a world-encounter wide interest in German films. Before that, it was more about a single filmmaker, now critics and viewers are interested in the German Film as a whole.” Akin’s best-known Film “Against the wall” has won in 2004 the Berlinale is the Golden bear. As the film festival in Cannes against Berlin? “The weather is better,” says Akin, and laughs.
Maren Ade is part of the nine-member international Jury in Cannes
“Cannes has always been a place where the question was asked, what is modern cinema,” adds Grisebach, whose second Film “Désir(s)” in 2006, ran at the Berlinale in the competition. “It is very intense. You have a lot of respect for Directors and for the story of the movie – but it always goes to the modernity, the question of what is cinema today. You can feel this in every conversation, every Interview, every meeting with the audience.”
Grisebach, this year, one of twelve female Directors in Cannes. It was repeatedly criticised that the film festival will show films by women. All the more remarkable considering that Germany comes up in two consecutive years with outstanding female Directors.
Maren Ade as an Ambassador of German film
Also Maren Ade is back in Cannes, this time as a member of Pedro Almodóvars nine-headed Jury. Along with Will Smith, Jessica Chastain and Paolo Sorrentino you will choose in competition for the Palme d’or from 19 movies. Although Toni Erdmann was assumed to be “” on that last year, but Ades was appointed to the Jury, acts as a award by the festival Director Thierry Frémaux. State Minister for culture Monika Grütters said: “Maren Ade and Toni Erdmann’ have shown the whole world what the German Film.”