A Film about a socially stranded people in New York, opened the games, the movie. The kick-off of the last Berlinale below the long-term chief Dieter Kosslick is well – intentioned, aesthetically pleasing but disappointing.
A mother with her two young sons on the run from her violent husband and in search of a little food and a place to Stay for the night. A abgekämpfte nurse who cares at your leisure by lonely and desperate people. A somewhat clumsy young man who loses a Job after the other.
Finally, a Russian Restaurant and its proprietor: a spiritualized-looking older Gentleman who is always reading thick books, and only pretends to be Russian, because the clientele it attracts. His chef, who is not able to show feelings, and therefore with a friend who is a timid lawyer to a self-help group, the nurse goes and there verdruckst to Council. Lone scherfig’s character Arsenal is made up of sympathetic, but not very happy people.
Clara (Zoe Kazan) brings against her the case of man the help of a lawyer (Jay Baruchel)
Prelude to the 69. The Berlinale. For Dieter Kosslick (the article’s picture, with the Jury), it is after 18 years the last. He received his guests, the Danish Director Lone Scherfig and actor ensemble of “The Kindness of Strangers”, as well as numerous personalities from politics, society and culture, on the Red carpet of the Berlinale Palace at the Potsdamer Platz. Many found warm words for the outgoing Festival Director. Kosslick was not too much emotion show. “Nostalgia comes in ten days. If we do the same again in the end,” he said in an Interview on the Red carpet.
Life in cold-hearted New York
Lone Scherfig presents the Berlinale audience for the opening so a handful of people in the cold winter of New York, ask one question: How can I cope with the day? In the case of the mother and her two offspring during the nearly two-hour movie plot, with an entirely existential question. In the case of the other Film characters rather one of attitude, of courage, of their daily struggle against despondency.
In a good mood, the Team turned to Director Lone Scherfig (third from right) in the world press
Scherfig’s response to the economic and social Dilemma is so simple as to be comprehensible: Personal crises are only overcome with solidarity and kindness, with kindness and friendship. “The Kindness of Strangers” is a cinematic plea for empathy. You see commitment issues in her films, which appear to it to be urgent, said the Director, following the first press screening of the film at noon, before the evening Gala: “to Me, it is just in our time is important also to say: Yes, the world has become more complicated, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.”
The actors are convincing, the script is less
“The Kindness of Strangers” is played by an international cast Ensemble is good and convincing. Zoe Kazan and Caleb Landry Jones from the USA, the Brits Andrea Riseborough and Bill Nighy, the Frenchman Tahar Rahim: they all embody sympathetic characters, which you can’t be evil.
New York Restaurant with a Russian accent: the owner of Timofey (Bill Nighy R.) and chef Mark (Tahar Rahim)
Only the course of time, have you played evil, so the conclusion of the Danish Director might be. The scherfig’s performers joined in: “We need movies, the people unite, rather than separate them,” said the English character actor Bill Nighy at the press conference. The current social climate will be determined by many prejudices, and even hate one of them.
The Film pulls the viewer barely
No one liked to speak. However, Lone a delivery Scherfig and her Film will also open doors. The husband of the young woman flees with her two sons in the Film to New York, is a nasty thug who looks at home on the Computer torture videos. Even otherwise, a clear Good-Evil-scheme. Because it makes Scherfig is a little too easy. Especially your movie over long distances emotionality and depth of robs.
At the end of a Couple of: Clara and Mark
The Dane may have as the scene of their new movie not coincidentally, New York selected. In the US city of beaches many people in search of happiness and a better life. New York has done in the history of cinema has always been produced as a backdrop for zerstobene hopes.
Social cold – a Symbol of the America of Donald Trump?
The Film is now also a Wink over into the America of Donald Trump, the vulnerable and outcasts minds? The husband who beats in the Film, wife and children, is, of all things, a white police officer, and possibly a typical Trump-voters, symbolizes, could be interpreted as evidence for criticism of the current state of the United States.
Director Lone Scherfig and actress Zoe Kazan at the press conference of the Berlinale
In any case, The Kindness of Strangers supported “” by the outgoing Festival Director Dieter Kosslick issued the Motto “The Private is political.” The characters in the movie of Lone unites Scherfig in your private Dilemma, that you are not Overwhelmed and outcasts in a social cold world in which the Rich take care of obviously, to the poor. In their conclusions and statements, you can follow Lone Scherfig.
Mixed the start of the 69. Berlinale
“The Kindness of Strangers” is a Film that knows what to do with his major theme artistically. Staging and film narrative are well-behaved, offering little for the eye. To call the applause after the press screening is sparse, it would still be an Exaggeration. In the evening, after the Gala it is likely to be louder. Because a well-behaved and well-intentioned festival kick-off film is still presented in the presence of his maker in a festive atmosphere, usually friendly welcome in Berlin.