German film festival returns

The third German Film Festival, organised by the German-Maltese Circle in collaboration with the Goethe Institute, will take place at St James Cavalier from Wednesday to next Sunday.

The programme has all the ingredients to entertain, broaden horizons, provoke thoughts and create that special aura- Paula Fleri-Soler

This year, the festival will also be spotlighting the works of critically acclaimed and controversial director Rainer Werner Fassbinder, with a selection of his films presented at the German-Maltese Circle premises in Messina Palace, Valletta, on Saturday.

Sirka Vella-Facklam, an active member of the circle, explains how the organisers hope to build on the success of the first two editions of the festival.

“The main factor to attract as many visitors to this year’s festival is obviously the choice of films. There is a mix of genres and topics, which hopefully will entice people to come and see them all,” she says.

She adds that the last two festivals have built a faithful audience that watches as many films as possible.

Regarding the choice of films, Vella-Facklam says “this year’s festival will challenge the widespread preconception that in German films nothing really happens,that they are slow and unpretentious with very little dramatic emphasis and just committed to authenticity.”

As for the films themselves, director Chris Kraus, whose film Four Minutes was one of the festival hits two years ago, is back with his new film The Poll Diaries, which opens the festival. “This should fascinate and move the audience with its stunning visual composition and passion rarely associated with German cinema,” says Vella-Facklam.

Described as a “pop-fairytale”, Goethe! is a biopic about Germany’s most celebrated writer that follows the tradition of Amadeus and Shakespeare in Love. It focuses on the young author’s unfulfilled love and the resulting Sorrows of Young Werther, which made him famous.

A more recent chapter of German history is presented by acclaimed documentary director Andres Veiel. His feature film debut If Not Us, Who? tries to explain why young people brought up in post-war Germany and during the conflicts of the 1960s, rebelled against the establishment and turned to violence to trigger off a decade of unparalleled terrorism in Germany.

Feo Aladag’s moving drama When We Leave, which won numerous awards in international festivals, tackles the issue of honour killings and integration of migrants in Germany – especially of young women, who were born and raised in Germany and who are caught in between tradition and their ambitions to lead an independent life.

In conclusion, I’ve Never been Happier is a charming, heart-warming comedy that finds the right balance between light-hearted yet intelligent entertainment.

Vella-Facklam says “the programme has all the ingredients to entertain, broaden one’s horizons, provoke thoughts and create that special aura, which makes watching good movies such a pleasure.”

“As in previous years we are expecting the festival to appeal to locals with an interest in European – and in particular German – cinema; Germans residing in Malta, students learning German who take the opportunity to expose themselves to the language, as well as culturally-interested tourists,” she adds.

The festival this year features something new – a Fassbinder film night. “The idea of the film night at our premises was born out of the necessity to transfer one night of the festival out of St JamesCavalier due to other commitments,” explains Vella-Facklam.

“Subsequently the idea of dedicating one night to a German director that has made cinema history was born. Fassbinder was the first who came to mind – the ultimate choice when one thinks about German cinema. He was one of the most influential German directors and created a new film aesthetic, and was not afraid to challenge his audience with his choice of topics, visual images or tense storytelling.”

Warming to the topic, Vella-Facklam explains that some of the best actors of the time worked with Fassbinder, and he also worked with the most gifted cameramen in Germany – in fact Michael Ballhaus, who shot Martha and 14 other Fassbinder films, later on worked withMartin Scorsese in Hollywood.

She points out that the social conflicts and psychological dramas reflected in his films never fail to move and provoke and remain relevant today.

“We hope that this thematic film night will be just a beginning of similar events about other directors during future festivals to come,” she concludes.

The Fassbinder film night will be accompanied by an exhibition of posters and statements reflecting Fassbinder’s influence on contemporary film-makers and will be introduced by Tony Cassar Darien.

All films will be screened with English subtitles. Tickets €3 per screening at St James Cavalier, free entry at the Fassbinder night on a first-come-first-served basis. For more information about the third German Film Festival, including screening dates and times, visit www.germanmaltesecircle.org.