nina hoss Tagged Articles at Cinematical

It's been a busy week for distributors buying the rights to independent films. One reason is Los Angeles Film Festival (LAFF), which is taking place right now, but films from other fests this year are also landing theatrical release. I'm especially pleased about the first film on this list since it's one I've seen and enjoyed.

• Hannah Takes the Stairs, which premiered at SXSW earlier this year, has been picked up by IFC First Take for theatrical release. Hannah is Chicago filmmaker Joe Swanberg's third feature. The film has a large ensemble cast including Greta Gerwig, Kent Osbourne, Mark Duplass and Andrew Bujalski. The SXSW premiere triggered discussions about a potential new filmmaking movement called Mumblecore. The film will be released in theaters starting on August 22. First Take is IFC's day-and-date distribution program, so expect to see the film on cable soon too.
• The Cinema Guild obtained U.S. distribution rights to the German film Yella, which premiered at Berlinale earlier this year. Nina Hoss won a Silver Bear for Best Actress in this thriller. Erik Davis's review has convinced me to see this film when it opens here: "Like a drug, Yella slowly creeps on you long after the end credits roll, takes hold of your body and doesn't let go until you're convinced it was one of the best films this year's Berlinale had to offer." Look for Yella to open in theaters later this year.

Like a drug, Yella slowly creeps on you long after the end credits roll, takes hold of your body and doesn't let go until you're convinced it was one of the best films this year's Berlinale had to offer. Wicked in the way it plays mind games with the audience, director Christian Petzold (Ghosts) has confirmed he's definitely one to watch, creating a sharp and daring film that never unveils its true colors until the very last frame. And, even then, we're still not sure how all the pieces fit together -- overcome by the greatest feeling a moviegoer could ask for: the need to watch it again ... and again.

When we first meet Yella (Nina Hoss), she's walking a familiar route between the train station and her home. However, she's afraid of something, someone -- hiding behind her long brown hair, almost uncomfortable in the clothes she wears; in the person she's become. We soon discover she's being followed (a pervert, perhaps?), but it's revealed that the man in the truck is an ex-lover, someone Yella is desperate to allude. He's anxious to speak with her -- wavers between anger and sweetness -- but Yella will have none of it; her silence telling us all we need to know: that this guy is bad news.

The awards ceremony for the 57th Berlin International Film Festival have just concluded. The Golden Bear went to a film not many people talked about during the fest -- Tuya's Marriage. Below you will find my live blog of the actual show (which was mostly in German, with brief moments in English). Along with the winners in each category, you will find my personal thoughts below:

-- German band Mia opens the show. Charlotte Roche hosts, briefly introduces Berlinale director Peter Kosslick. His entire speech is in German -- sorry, could not translate that fast.

-- Gael Garcia Bernal is introduced and presents The Silver Bear award for outstanding artistic achievement, which goes to ... The Good Shepherd. There's your obligatory American award. Robert De Niro skipped town last week, and was not there to accept the award.

-- Next up, Nansun Shi presents the Silver Bear for best use of music in a film, which goes to David Mackenzie for Hallam Foe ... and for his extremely pop-centric soundtrack.

-- Hiam Abbass presents the Silver Bear for best actor in a film to Julio Chávez for El Otro. I can see why he won, but his performance was a little too vague for me.

-- Mario Adorf steps up to present the award for best actress and -- out of nowhere -- Nina Hoss wins for Yella! Wow, no one -- including Hoss -- saw that coming, as Marion Cotillard and Marianne Faithfull were huge front-runners. She's shocked. Big, big surprise. Yella was the best film, but Cotillard should have won the best actress.

-- Molly Malene Stansgaard presents the best director award to Joseph Cedar for Beaufort. I did not see Beaufort, but from what I heard it was beautifully shot. I guess we knew Petzold was not winning when Hoss took best actress. Oh well. So far all of my picks are wrong. Boo!

-- Willem Dafoe steps up to present the Silver Bear for Grand Jury Prix ... which goes to El Otro. Huh? Man, obviously the jury saw something in this film that a lot of us did not see, as this is the second award tonight for El Otro. Director Ariel Rotter takes forever to deliver his speech, just barely makes it through without breaking down on stage.

-- The somewhat odd German band Mia performs once more after opening the show.

-- Gerhard Meixner introduces the best first feature award. It takes three people to announce this award, which goes to Vanaja. Lots in German, trying to keep up ...

-- Javier Bardem steps up to present the Alfred-Bauer-Prize (in memory of the festival's founder) for particular innovation in filmmaking, which goes to ... I'm a Cyborg, But That's Okay. Hey, I loved this film -- this award is definitely okay with me. Park Chan-Wook accepts ... sorry, no idea what he's saying. All in German.

-- Writer-director Paul Schrader finally finds his way to the stage with fest director Peter Kosslick to present The Golden Bear! And the award (after a terribly long intro) goes to ... Tuya's Marriage. Hmm, very interesting choice ... and a film not many people talked about during the festival. Figures, one of the three I did not see ...