With winter approaching what better time to bunker down with a good movie or even better a whole Film Festival? Next month will see the German Film Festival return to Perth. Here are a few tips to help you make the most of the festival this year.
This year the German Film Festival gives us 30+ films from Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Running from May 5 to 24th make sure you get in quick.
Christoph Mücher, Director of Goethe-Institut Australia, said: “The Goethe-Institut is excited to support the 2023 German Film Festival in Australia yet again. Viewing the latest German movies – fresh from Berlinale – is the most relaxing way of diving into the rich language and culture whilst being on the other side of the world. Viel Spaß!”
My hints for this year are:
- Opening night reception, May 4th at Palace Raine Square. The film festival opens with the Australian premiere of A Thousand Lines. The event includes a drink on arrival plus delicious German snacks.
- Closing night, May 24th at Luna Leederville. Say goodbye to the film festival with the chaotic road trip Over & Out, cocktail in hand naturally.
- B-Movie: Lust& Sound In West Berlin 1979-98 at Luna Leederville. If cocktails aren’t your thing why not grab a beer or wine, before being transported to the final decade of the island city of West Berlin. The film, B-Movie: Lust & Sound In West Berlin 1979-1989, has been called a “wilding entertaining documentary that will get your music heart excited.” I’m all for a look back at music of the late 1970s, one of my favourite eras.
- Comedy. Those following along know my love of comedy, I mean who doesn’t need cheering up at the moment? FAMILY AFFAIRS is a sequel to the 2019 hit comedy of manners How About Adolf? It reunites the families from the first film, this time on the stunning Spanish island of Lanzarote, where conflicts immediately erupt.
- Sparkly Bear Event. Take your glass of sparkling wine and settle in for SISI & I. Set in the late 19th century this has been deemed a “wild reinterpretation of the Sisi myth”. The story follows the lady-in-waiting of Empress Elisabeth ‘Sisi’ of Austria-Hungary as they live in an aristocratic commune in Greece. Could be interesting.
- Family friendly films. The film festival will continue to present the popular sidebar ‘Kino for Kids’. This year it features THE ROBBER HOTZENPLOTZ. In this remake of Otfried Preußler’s classic children’s book, Kasperl and his friend Seppel set out on an adventure to retrieve his grandmother’s stolen coffee grinder! Sounds good for big kids too.
- Retrospective. Most Film Festivals have a retrospective section. This year the theme of the retrospective is Music, Art and Chaos: A Sonic Transmission from Berlin. It presents a filmic journey into the West Berlin New Wave music scene showcasing the pioneers of the period and the cultural influences that forged a bold transmission of sound and vision. Naturally as a New Wave fan I’ve added this to my list.
- Documentary/Biopics Ingeborg Bachman – Journey Into The Desert. INGEBORG BACHMANN – JOURNEY INTO THE DESERT was nominated for the Golden Bear. Krieps plays the charismatic Austrian writer Ingeborg Bachmann exploring her unconventional life and tumultuous romance with Swiss playwright Max Frisch. Sounds intriguing.
- Dramas. Outstanding dramas include THE FOX , said to be a touching story based on true events. The WWII set drama follows an introverted motorcycle courier for the Austrian Army who finds friendship with a young fox cub.
- Female filmmakers. This year there will be a focus on female filmmakers, something my female director friends will be overjoyed to see.
- A random pick. I always like to include a random pick and see something I’m not sure about. Set in 1989 East Berlin, IN A LAND THAT NO LONGER EXISTS is inspired by the directors’ experiences as a model in the late 1980s, in the German Democratic Republic and tells the story of beauty, fashion and freedom during a pivotal time.
- MULTIPASSES at Luna Cinemas. To buy 5 or 10 film multipasses to the festival CLICK HERE
Make sure you get in soon as the best movies sell out fast. For more information go to Luna Cinemas and Palace Cinemas or German Film Festival.
