- Applause for German cinema in Locarno
Kicking off the 77th International Film Festival in Locarno, German filmmakers have already made a strong impression. Among the 17 films from around the world competing for the top prize, the Golden Leopard, five were made with significant German involvement. Two of these, "The Death Will Come" and "Bogancloch", have already been shown and received much applause.
German director Christoph Hochhäusler ("Until the End of the Night") has particularly impressed with his feature film "The Death Will Come". This German-Luxembourg-Belgian co-production tells the story of a gang war, expanding into a critical exploration of the state of contemporary bourgeois society. At the Locarno festival, Christoph Hochhäusler said his film reflects "the necessity for societal changes driven by women" and is "a meditation on the increasing diffuse fear of the future felt by many".
Strong contenders: A dropout documentary and a novel adaptation
Besides Christoph Hochhäusler's atmospheric thriller, the documentary "Bogancloch" by British director Ben Rivers, produced by teams in the UK, Germany, and Iceland, has sparked conversation. "Bogancloch" is the name of the remote, off-grid hermitage of dropout Jake Williams deep in an Irish forest. Ben Rivers observes Williams' life with meditative calm, using artfully composed images. Like "The Death Will Come", "Bogancloch" could also be considered for an award due to its stylistic originality.
Spanish director Mar Coll's novel adaptation "Salve Maria" also has a chance at a prize. She too opts for an original storytelling approach, giving her sensitively told story of a young mother with postnatal depression a sense of urgency that transcends class and gender boundaries.
The tension is already high in Locarno this year, just days into the competition, as to who will win. The Golden Leopard and other awards will be presented on the evening of August 17th during a gala under the stars.
The name of the German-Luxembourg-Belgian co-production that has impressed at the festival is "The Death Will Come: The Name of the vessels in the film is not provided, but the film explores the state of contemporary bourgeois society. The name of the remote, off-grid hermitage in the Irish forest where British director Ben Rivers sets his documentary "Bogancloch" is also not provided, but the film has sparked conversation at the festival.
