Paula Fleri-Soler catches up with Sirka Vella-Facklam, one of the driving forces behind the German Film Festival, ahead of this year’s edition.

Oh Boy won the Gold awards in nearly all categories.Oh Boy won the Gold awards in nearly all categories.

Building on the success achieved over the past four years, the German-Maltese Circle, in collaboration with the Goethe Institute, is once again organising a festival of German films.

Sirka Vella-Facklam is the driving force behind the festival, which has become a fixture on the Maltese cinema calendar.

“We are obviously happy to have the festival running for the fifth year, considering that European films are a niche market in Malta,” says Vella-Facklam.

“Yet, there is a large enough crowd of people in Malta interested in non-Hollywood and non-mainstream films to fill the cinema. Of course, German films alone cannot cover the whole spectrum of what European film has to offer, but I think we do our fair share to satisfy, to a certain extent, the appetite of those who crave less commercial films. These also serve a different aesthetic to the crowd-pleasing American films.”

Vella-Facklam remarks that the reputation of German films has improved tremendously over the past 10 to 12 years, partially due to internationally-acclaimed films like Good Bye Lenin! or The Life of Others.

The success of these films has aroused the curiosity of European cinemagoers, who are ready to watch stories on the big screen told by German directors from a German perspective.

Describing this year’s line-up, Vella-Facklam points out that the films chosen might not be spectacular in terms of visual effects and locations, but their drama and fascination lie more in the stories being told and in the way they are being told.

Vella-Facklam had commented in the past that audiences seemed to prefer lighter subjects – yet this year’s choice seems to include quite bit of drama.

“It is true that this year’s programme does not include any outright comedy,” she concedes.

“Perhaps the times we live in are not right to approach topics in this vein.

“Of course, there have been highly successful German comedies during the past 12 months, but the German-Maltese Circle and the Goethe Institute do not organise the festival as a commercial showcase. We aim to provide high-quality films which might, at times, challenge the audience and play with their expectations.”

Vella-Facklam elaborates explaining that the choice includes winners at the Lola Awards, considered to be the German Oscars.

“This year we managed to get hold of two winning films,” she says.

They are Oh Boy, a film shot in black and white which won the Gold awards in nearly all major categories; and Hannah Arendt, which won the Silver award for best film. Barbara Sukova, who plays the Jewish philosopher Hannah Arendt, won the award for Best Actress.

Her brilliant performance alone is worth watching the film. Furthermore, this film is a kind of historical drama – as is Mahler on the Couch – another strong favourite with Maltese audiences.

For the first time, the line-up includes a documentary. Forget Me Not is directed by the son of a woman suffering from Alzheimer’s.

“She is portrayed in such a gentle and heart-warming manner that the film really carries the audience along in a touching way,” says Vella-Facklam.

The reputation of German films has improved tremendously over the past 10 to 12 years

Another first is the inclusion of a Swiss film, Fosterboy, a gripping picture that has been extremely successful in cinemas.

Also included are Three, by acclaimed director Tom Tykwer, about an unconventional love triangle, and Lessons of a Dream, which tells the story of a young and liberal English teacher who is hired at a strict secondary school in late 19th-century Germany.

As has now become tradition, the festival will also highlight the career and works of an esteemed German director. This year’s focus is on the visionary Werner Herzog.

“When you organise a film festival, sooner or later you cannot ignore this great director,” explains Vella-Facklam when discussing this year’s choice.

“He enjoys iconic status for the legendary films he directed in the 1970s – Fitzcarraldo, Aguirre – The Wrath of God and Nosferatu – as well as for his cooperation with egocentric actor Klaus Kinsky.

“We are extremely proud to present the latter two films during this year’s Classic Film Night at the German Maltese Circle in Valletta. His feature films reflect a particular style, gripping the audience with an intensive approach to acting and visuals.”

The German Film Festival takes places from Wednesday to next Sunday at St James Cavalier and Messina Palace, Valletta. Tickets, which cost €3, can be booked from St James Cavalier for all shows except for the Werner Herzog Classic Film Night. Entrance to the Werner Herzog Classic Film Night at Messina Palace is complimentary.

www.germanmaltesecircle.org

www.sjcav.org

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