San Francisco Downtown, January 2007

Cinema Germanophile
Berlin & Beyond returns to the Castro

A long hot summer, two flirtatious women, hints of jealousy and a lot of gratuitous consumption of wine. These are a few of the ingredients adding spice to the opening film of the 12th Annual Berlin and Beyond Film Festival, which shows at the Castro Theatre (429 Castro Street) from January 11 -- 17. Well known Berlin-based director Andres Dresen will be onhand for a post-viewing Q & A session for Summer in Berlin (Sommer Vorm Balkon), the cinematic antidote to the dreariest season in San Francisco. It's just one of the many independent films, classic revivals and documentaries lined up for the popular yearly festival. Organized by the Goethe-Institut San Francisco, which has been coordinating local Germanophile events since 1967, the festival also debuts cinematic entries from Switzerland and Austria.

Dr. Ingrid Eggers, cultural program director for the Institut, explains that she co-founded the festival for the very simple reason that, "there were just so many good German [language] films that were shown nowhere. Every now and then, you'd see some as part of an international festival but hardly ever an Austrian or Swiss film."

And while Eggers acknowledges that there is a substantial German speaking population in the Bay Area, she asserts that all of the screenings of the subtitled movies are also for the benefit of Bay Area cine-philes in general. " You don't find that everywhere; people are willing to read the subtitles here. You wouldn't be able to do that in LA. You have a much more engaged and enthusiastic, even more intelligent, audience here. Lots of film buffs – we are only one of the many international film festivals here," she concludes.

The week-long event hosts several directors for interactive discussions along with select panel meetings; lending depth and context to movies that hail from such a distant land. And the multi-faceted film buffet is making a splash back in the old country as well. "It is becoming quite well known in Germany more and more filmmakers are responding to our call for entries. Many are eager to show their work here," adding, "It's also a great opportunity to network."

While most of the features are set in present-day German-speaking world and treat contemporary topics, one featured movie hearkens back to the earliest days of cinema. Based on the 1779 play by Enlightenment dramatist Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, Manfred Noa’s Nathan Der Weise (Nathan the Wise), a silent movie masterpiece which was filmed in 1922, highlights an issue as timely today as it was in pre-Nazi Germany — religious tolerance. Nathan, a Jewish merchant, advises restraint in Moslem Saladin’s dealings with invading Christian crusaders by quoting a parable about religious “truth.” The original theatrical version was banned by the Church during Lessing’s era, and Noa’s film adaptation was later attacked by fundamentalists and ultimately banned by the Nazis. "Not only is it an interesting and timely film because it deals with the conflict in the Middle East, it's a brilliant print," Eggers enthuses, "It feels and looks very compelling as it depicts those problems that have been on history's center stage for 700 or so years." Thanks to Filmmuseum München’s restoration efforts, the audience can again contemplate Lessing’s plea for religious understanding while basking in the silver glow of the silent screen and the musical accompaniment of organist Dennis James.

On January 17, the program concludes on a fairly light-hearted note with the screening of The Fisherman and his Wife - Why Women Never Get Enough, director Dorris Dörrie’s an old Grimm’s Brother's fairy tale. The 7pm show will be followed by the closing night party.

Tickets for individual films are $9. Senior and student admission is $7. Opening Night Film tickets are $10. Admission to Opening Night Film and Party is $30. Closing Night Film and Party is $15. The silent film screening with live musical accompaniment is $10. A special pass for the entire Festival is $100 - good for entrance to all films except the Opening and Closing Night Films and Parties. For tickets, a complete schedule or more information, call 415-263-8760 or visit www.goethe.de/sanfrancsico.

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