Archive 2009
Kinema - German-French Youth Award - Programme
13 SemesterDirector: Frieder Wittich, D 2008, 97 min, 35 mm, colour, GV
Actors: Max Riemelt, Robert Gwisdek, Claudia Eisinger
Momo and Dirk leave their Brandenburg province to study economics and maths at Darmstadt university. While Dirk becomes an academic high-flier, Momo dedicates himself to student life. Between partying with his happy-go-lucky flatmate Bernd and attempting to attract his dream woman Kerstin, he finally goes off track. With the help of his new friend Aswin, Momo tries to pull himself together and find a place in life.
Draussen am See
Director: Felix Fuchssteiner, D 2009, 105 min, 35 mm, colour, GV
Actors: Elisa Schlott, Michael Lott, Petra Kleinert, Sina Tkotsch
“Families are artificially created biotopes – if the basic temperature changes, then everything gets out of balance and all living things in them perish”. Fuchssteiner’s melancholy debut film tells about personal conflicts away from the noisy world, out at the lake.
14-year-old Jessica grows up in a harmonious family environment but experiences how this structure spins out of balance through external influences and internal conflicts. Jessica, experiencing her first sexual encounters and love, is unable to prevent this disintegration and is in danger of being stifled.
Mensch Kotschie
Director: Norbert Baumgarten, D 2009, 96 min, 35 mm, colour, GV
Actors: Robert Gwisdek, Stefan Kurt, Ulrike Krumbiegel, Claudia Michelsen
Short of his fiftieth birthday, Kotschie falls into a deep hole and experiences a serious, sentmental crisis of meaning. Taking provisional stock of his life, he can be quite proud: A family, a big house, a good job. Nevertheless he suddenly questions everything. Somehow the running is not smooth any more. The craziness of everyday routine, and the physical deterioration: He gains weight, breaks out in sweat, he suffers from short breath. His former lover Carmen appearing in his dreams does not make it easier for him to see his current life through different eyes. Kotschie gets involved more and more.br>
Der Vater meiner Kinder (Le Père de mes enfants)
Director: Mia Hansen-Løve, F/D 2009, 110 min, 35 mm, colour, GS
Actors: Louis Do de Lencquesaing, Chiara Caselli, Dominique Frot
Charismatic film producer Grégoire is admired for his wonderful family and fascinating job. His hectic everyday life is only interrupted by quiet weekends with the family in the country. What nobody knows: Grégoire’s company is broke. Inspired by the life and tragic death of French producer Humbert Balsan.
Be good (Sois sage)
Director: Juliette Garcias, F/DK 2008, 91 min, 35 mm, colour, GS
Actors: Anaïs Demoustier, Bruno Todeschini, Nade Dieu
Ève works for a country bakery delivering bread in order to spy out the family life of a piano player she apparently knows from earlier. Why does she seek contact with this man? BE GOOD is an intensive character study with vivid surrealistic pictures that get well and truly under the audience’s skin – a fascinating debut film, with an outstanding actress.
Die Schachspielerin (Joueuse)
Director: Caroline Bottaro, F/D 2009, 100 min, 35 mm, colour, GS
Actors: Sandrine Bonnaire, Kevin Kline, Jennifer Beals
The hotel maid, Hélène, becomes fascinated with chess when seeing a young American couple playing. She begins to learn chess to perfection, aided by her odd friend, Dr Kröger. However, her passion for the game has dangerous consequences for her marriage, reputation and life...
The film tells the story of the emancipation of a simple woman who attains independence.