March 2001 - Nr. 3
Berlinale Golden Bear
to French Drama
TWIG - Europe triumphed over Hollywood at the Berlin International Film Festival this year as the Berlinale’s top prize, the Golden Bear, was awarded to the French drama Intimacy, directed by Patrice Chereau. Filmed in London and based on short stories by British writer Hanif Kureishi, it portrays a couple’s struggle with the vicissitudes of erotic love. Intimacy was considered a front-runner early in the competition and also won a Silver Bear for best actress (Kerry Fox) and the Blue Angel for best director. The last French film to take the Golden Bear was Bertrand Tavernier’s L’Appât (The Bait) in 1995.
Moritz de Hadeln, who is stepping down as head of the Berlinale this year, said he was delighted by the jury’s "courageous decision" in choosing a film that has been criticized for its graphic sexuality. "I was excited about this brilliantly acted film on a moving subject," said de Hadeln. "The Berlinale is not the Vatican!"
Silver Bears also went to the Chinese film Beijing Bicycle,
directed by Wang Xiaoshuai, the Danish comedy Italian for Beginners, by Lone
Scherfig, the American thriller Traffic, by Steven Soderbergh, and the
Taiwanese teen drama Ai Ni Ai Wo, by Lin Cheng-Sheng. Canadian director
Martine Cartrand was awarded a Golden Bear for her short feature Ame Noire.
