BERLIN: My favorite movies were Jafar Panahi’s “Taxi“, Terrence Malick’s “Knight of Cups” and “Elser“, a German movie about a forgotten hero who tried to kill Hitler.
Best interviews: Natalie Portman for “Knight of Cups” – actually her first interview after the Oscar, her marriage and her birth of son Aleph -, Charlotte Gainsbourg, touching as always, telling me that she moved to New York after the death of her sister Kate Barry, and a fabulous Helen Mirren who simply rocked as Austrian lady claiming back her Klimt painting “Woman in Gold” that the Nazis had stolen from her family. Also in a great mood (and generally one of the funniest actors): Ryan Reynolds. He plays an engaged lawyer who helps Helen Mirren’s character. Ryan Reynolds was so proud and happy about the birth of his and Blake Lively’s daughter just four weeks ago.
Big excitement for the premiere of “50 Shades of Grey” in Berlin – but I skipped that one! The actor Max Irons told us that every actor of his generation was asked whether he wanted to play the part of Christian Grey. Now, it’s big time for Jamie Dornan. A choice that Robert Pattinson commented with a laughter: “Jamie is a friend of mine – and now I am going to watch him having sex!”
The festival ended on Friday with a huge, uplifting cinematic joy to all journalists – a delightful premiere of “Cinderella” by Kenneth Branagh. first time that my colleagues left the cinema with a bright smile on their face. Lilly Allen is a sweet, pure and very charming Cinderella, Helen Bonham Carter enchanted all of us with her chaotic fairy godmother, the ball was a blast and the dresses…a dream! The press conference after the screening was more of a royal event as even Cate the Great (Blanchett, that is, who played the evil stepmother) honoured Berlin with her visit. Cinderella enchanted everybody – a happy ending to ten demanding days!