French documentary ‘On the Adamant’ wins top Berlin film prize

Shot over three years, the documentary takes viewers onto a Seine barge in Paris that serves as a floating daycare centre for adults affected by a psychological sickness.

Nicolas Philibert, director of the documentary "On the Adamant" holding the top prize for his documentary film.
Nicolas Philibert, director of the documentary 'On the Adamant', receives the Golden Bear for Finest Movie through the award ceremony of the Worldwide Movie Competition, Berlinale, in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, February 25, 2023 [Markus Schreiber/ AP]

A French documentary a couple of floating daycare centre in Paris for adults with a psychological sickness has gained the Berlin Worldwide Movie Competition’s high Golden Bear prize.

Nicolas Philibert, the director of “On the Adamant”, stated on Saturday that he was deeply touched by the jury’s determination to award the Berlinale’s high award to a documentary fairly than a piece of fiction.

“That documentary will be thought-about cinema in its personal proper touches me deeply,” he stated.

“For 40 years I've all the time fought for it to be seen as a lot.”

Shot over three years, the movie follows life at a daycare centre on board The Adamant, a barge moored on the correct financial institution of the Seine, the place sufferers and carers work together in ways in which break with what Philibert sees because the dehumanisation of psychiatry.

The 72-year-old director stated that within the movie, he had tried to “reverse the picture” that individuals have of these with a psychological sickness and permit viewers to see “what unites us past our variations”.

“As everyone knows, the craziest persons are not these we expect they're,” he added.

Young Actress Sofia Otero holds up the Silver Bear she received for Best Acting Performance in a Leading Role in the film "20.000 species of bees".
Sofia Otero gained the Silver Bear for Finest Appearing Efficiency in a Main Function within the movie ‘20,000 Species of Bees’ on the Worldwide Movie Competition, Berlinale, in Berlin, Germany [Markus Schreiber/ AP]

The award for greatest director went to fellow French filmmaker Philippe Garrel for “The Plough”, about three siblings who're making an attempt to maintain alive the household puppeteering enterprise after the loss of life of their father.

Garrel devoted the prize to his kids and to French-Swiss director Jean-Luc Godard, “a terrific grasp for many people”, who died final September.

The very best main efficiency prize was awarded to Spanish actor Sofia Ortero, who performs an 8-year-old baby trying to find id and acceptance in “20,000 Species of Bees”.

“It's uncommon to see somebody convey so many feelings however stay easy and shattering,” stated jury president Kristen Stewart. “Particularly in performances given to us by a toddler.”

Otero, who fought again tears when amassing the award, later informed journalists she was “very grateful, very completely happy”.

The award for greatest supporting efficiency went to Austrian actor Thea Ehre for her position in “Until the Finish of the Evening”, whereas the perfect screenplay went to “Music” by German filmmaker Angela Schanelec.

French cinematographer Helene Louvart acquired the Silver Bear for excellent inventive contribution for her work on “Disco Boy”.

The 73rd Berlinale kicked off with an tackle by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who requested artists and filmmakers to unequivocally declare their assist for his nation in its effort to fend off Russia’s invasion forces.

Zelenskyy, a former comic and actor, featured prominently in Sean Penn’s movie in regards to the battle in Ukraine, “Superpower,” which had its world premiere in Berlin.

The pageant, which ranks alongside Cannes and Venice as one in every of Europe’s high cinema showcases, additionally highlighted antigovernment protests in Iran with new function movies and documentaries.

There have been 19 movies from all over the world vying for this yr’s Golden Bear.

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