Is it the revenge of the old white males, who feel a bit cramped in world auteur cinema, since the rise of the #metoo movement?
Still, on Saturday February 25, the highest awards of the 73e edition of the Berlinale have crowned great masters, as it is customary to say: Nicolas Philibert received the Golden Bear for best film for his documentary, On the Adamant ; the German Christian Petzold won the Grand Jury Prize for The Red Sky; Philippe Garrel won the prize for best director for The Big Cartand the Portuguese Joao Canijo the jury prize for barely living. In the same generation, the German Angela Schanelec is distinguished for the scenario of Music. So decided the jury, chaired by Kristen Stewart, 32, the youngest president of the jury in the history of the Berlinale.
If certain prizes are deserved, such a choice raises questions, especially since there were very good films from a new generation (Totemthe Mexican Lila Avilés, or even Disco Boy, by the Italian Giacomo Abbruzzese, which nevertheless earned the director of photography, Hélène Louvart, a Silver Bear for her artistic contribution). Or was it for the jury to take a step aside, whereas previously three female directors won the grand slam at the biggest festivals: Palme d’Or at Cannes in 2021 to Julia Ducournau (Titanium), Golden Lion in Venice in the wake of Audrey Diwan (The event), then the Golden Bear to Carla Simon in 2022 (Our suns). Was it starting to get a little too much?
At 72, the Frenchman Nicolas Philibert finally knows the coronation: author of cult documentaries since To be and to Have (2002), he immortalized the public service of Radio France in The radio house (2013), paid tribute to the devotion of nurses – of every moment (2018), etc.
piece of utopia
On the Adamant is a piece of utopia: the title designates a floating building, located on the banks of the Seine (Port de la Rapée, in the 12e district), which welcomes people with mental disorders during the day. Philibert happily places his camera in this barge filled with unforgettable beings, such as this old gentleman convinced that his brother and himself inspired Van Gogh in his portraits. The director makes a kingdom out of a fragile place: he does not invent it, this place exists, but he reveals it with the great humanity he is accustomed to – the film, the first part of a triptych to come, will be released in theaters on April 19.
You have 62.47% of this article left to read. The following is for subscribers only.