First controversies and waiting for Cillian Murphy: Berlinale begins to allow Israeli troops into hospital in Khan Yunis ++ Lazzarini: “You cannot evacuate Rafah”

In Berlin, the performance of Oscar favorite Cillian Murphy (“Oppenheimer”) is eagerly awaited. Hours before the press conference for the film festival’s opening film, fans line up at the barriers hunting for autographs. There is a group of friends who came from Hesse and Thuringia especially for Murphy. “He’s just likeable,” says one of them.

Murphy is the star of the new adaptation “Little things like this”, this year’s opening film at the Berlinale. The 47-year-old would present the film in Berlin on Thursday evening together with producer Matt Damon, among others.

The drama is about a historical scandal involving church institutions in Ireland. In the film, director Tim Mielants tells a story against the backdrop of the so-called Magdalen laundries in Ireland. Thousands of pregnant young women were exploited in these church institutions between 1820 and 1996. As a rule, they were also forced to give up their newborn children for adoption to homes and monasteries.

The drama follows the inner struggle of a coal merchant, played by Murphy, in a small Irish town in the 1980s: should he adapt and remain silent – or should he rise up against injustice? The Irish actor also stars Eileen Walsh, Michelle Fairley and Emily Watson.

AfD and the war in Ukraine: political debates in focus

Another focus during the Berlinale is always on political debates, especially this year. One reason: the invitation and non-invitation of five AfD politicians to the opening of the International Film Festival. The film festival invited her after international criticism. Director Christian Petzold commented on this on Thursday. “I think it is no problem to have five people from the AfD in the audience,” said the 63-year-old, who is part of the Berlinale jury. ‘We are not cowards. If we can’t handle the fact that there are five people from the AfD in the audience, we will lose our battle.”

A Putin-friendly director on the jury?

The jury chairman, Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o, emphasized: “In the 48 hours I’ve been here, one of the things that comes up again and again is how political the Berlinale is.” The war in Ukraine is also a problem. On Thursday there was discussion about some statements by Spanish director and jury member Albert Serra that were criticized as pro-Putin. This is explosive, not least because the Ukrainian author and Putin critic Oksana Sabuschko is also on the jury.

A journalist asked Serra about a 2018 interview in which he reportedly expressed his admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Serra was asked if he had changed his opinion of Putin since the war. He qualified previous statements and stated, among other things: “The political question of which leadership (I) prefer has changed because there is a war and everyone is angry with Russia.” This is a very complex question.

Author Sabushko said: “There is good news: last night we had dinner together and he bought my recently published book about this war. So I hope he will educate himself a bit.”

Another special feature of the Berlinale: it has been considered the largest public festival in the world for decades. Many film fans go on holiday and travel to Berlin especially to experience a cinema marathon and bathe in glamour. This includes stars like Kristen Stewart, Carey Mulligan and Adam Sandler – and their often extravagant outfits. Nyong’o already set a first highlight: with an original headdress made of shells. (sda/dpa)