- Filmfest Locarno: German cinema in the race for the halftime
German Filmmakers Have Good Chances for an Award at the Midpoint of the Locarno Film Festival
German filmmakers have good chances of winning an award at the halfway point of the Locarno Film Festival. The prizes will be awarded on the shores of Lake Maggiore in Switzerland on Saturday evening (August 17). A total of 17 films are in competition for the Golden Leopard, the main prize. Currently, German actress Maren Eggert ("I'm Your Human") is considered the favorite for an award for best acting.
Maren Eggert Shines in "The Sparrow in the Chimney"
Maren Eggert shines in the family drama "The Sparrow in the Chimney" by Swiss director Ramon Zürcher. She captivates with a multifaceted character study. The subtlety of her performance contributes significantly to the story of a wife and mother searching for meaning becoming a reflection of a society in which women still suffer from the consequences of patriarchy.
It is also possible that Maren Eggert will be honored with her most important partners in this film, her German colleagues Luise Heyer and Britta Hammelstein, as an acting team.
Helena Zengel Enthralls with Subtle Performance
However, the competition is strong. The strongest other film so far also comes from Germany: Helena Zengel ("System Crasher") captivates in the international co-production "Transamazonia" by German director Pia Marais. She plays a 16-year-old who gets caught in the murderous crossfire between environmental protection and greed in the Amazon rainforest.
Helena Zengel, herself as young as the Rebecca she portrays, acts with extraordinary subtlety and draws the audience in magically.
So far, the greatest attention at Locarno has been given to women. In the first half of the festival, films with female protagonists dominated. Only two exceptions stood out: The international co-production "Bogans" by British director Ben Rivers, a cinematic essay about a hermit, received great attention.
The Italian-French love drama "Sulla terra leggeri" (international distribution title: "Weightless") by Italian director Sara Fgaier also received much applause, a emotionally charged love story.
Bollywood Superstar Shah Rukh Khan Enthralls Crowd
The most glamorous highlight of the festival so far was the presentation of an honorary award to Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan under the glittering star tent. More than 8,000 visitors celebrated the actor and director, widely known as "King Khan" beyond his home country of India, on the Piazza Grande, the market square of the picturesque resort transformed into one of the largest cinemas in the world for the festival.
The cheers of the crowd confirmed Shah Rukh Khan's thesis that cinema makes the lives of many people more beautiful.
The most important European film festival after Cannes, Berlin, and Venice is showing 225 short, feature, and documentary films until August 17. It is already clear that this year's 77th edition will live up to its reputation as the most important platform for discovering still unknown talents and films that deviate from conventional storytelling.
Maren Eggert's outstanding performance in "The Sparrow in the Chimney" has earned her favorable chances for an acting award, alongside her colleagues Luise Heyer and Britt Hammelstein. The competition is stiff, as German actress Helena Zengel also delivers a captivating performance in "Transamazonia."
