"F*** Putin + Trump": Insights and experiences from the Berlinale festival.

This evening, we will learn how the jury, led by Todd Haynes, will distribute the awards at the 75th Berlin Film Festival. We have high hopes for Kateryna Hornostai's film "Time Tape" – a gentle, subtle, and honest portrayal of Ukrainian schools during wartime. It is the only documentary among the 19 competitive films. Other directors present various stories, some more valuable than others.

Before the "bears" are awarded, let's discuss five of the most interesting competitive films. Unfortunately, there were not many this year.

In "Blue Moon" by Richard Linklater, we see a portrait of Broadway musical author and lyricist Lorenz Hart (Ethan Hawke). He is known, among other things, for co-writing the musical "Oklahoma!" with composer Richard Rodgers. The action unfolds in the theater's foyer, all taking place on the evening of March 31, 1943.

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The film serves as a showcase for Hawke, who is constantly present on screen. He shares amusing stories from the past and dominates the screen (one might even say the stage).

Linklater's craftsmanship overcomes the excessive theatricality inherent in the film's very concept.

Hart, the author of the songs "Blue Moon," "Manhattan," and "My Funny Valentine," is portrayed with irony.

Besides Hawke, who is the main attraction here despite being hard to recognize, the film also features Margaret Qualley ("Substantiation"), Andrew Scott ("Ripley"), and others.

Similarly, "What Nature Tells You" by Korean director Hong Sang-soo primarily builds its narrative on dialogue. Traditionally meditative and atmospheric, the film is also generously laced with irony. A girl brings her boyfriend home to meet her parents for the first time, but both her relatives behave oddly, and the boyfriend gets drunk and says too much.

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Hong Sang-soo brings his "small" films to Berlin almost every year. Throughout the 2020s, he has participated in the main competition six times and has won the directing award four times. One might think this would become tiresome. However, it's still fascinating to watch him, even if he doesn’t offer any surprises.

Michel Franco is also a frequent guest at the most renowned film festivals. This time, he presents "Dreams," featuring Jessica Chastain and the well-known Mexican dancer Isaac Hernandez.

The film is surprisingly relevant. The topic of immigrants from Mexico has become very pressing in the U.S. However, Franco has addressed this before.

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The film explores the relationship between a Mexican immigrant and the daughter of a millionaire, who is also one of the heads of the family charity foundation. Jennifer fears for her career, thus hiding her relationship with Fernando, leading to constant arguments and even breakups. Fernando decides to cut off all communication with Jennifer, while she pursues him.

Michel Franco is a radical director who does not shy away from this in his new film. The main themes he explores are inequality and exploitation. Franco combines melodramatic techniques with political satire, intertwining romantic dreams with tragedy. He skillfully uses an intimate story to examine global issues. "Dreams" may not be his best film, but it remains powerful.

The film by French director Lucile Hadžihalilović, "The Ice Tower," tells the story of a girl who escapes from her foster family and finds refuge in a strange building. It turns out to be a film set for "The Snow Queen." Initially, both the audience and the protagonist struggle to discern where the line lies between fairy tale and reality, cinema and dream. It is a magical box that gradually opens to reveal far from the most appealing things.

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Strange relationships develop between the teenager (Clara Pacini) and the actress playing the queen (Marion Cotillard). Interestingly, the film's director is played by radical filmmaker Gaspar Noé, adding additional cinematic meanings to the film.

However, having begun a captivating story, the director fails to avoid clichés.

Nevertheless, the French Alps, the caricatured Noé, and the mesmerizingly cold and beautiful Cotillard make the film worth watching.

The most significant film of the competition (somewhat predictably, it must be said) is "Continental 25" by Romanian director Radu Jude. Each of his works has become a cinematic masterpiece, and "Continental 25" is no exception.

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This film is both highly sarcastic and tragically poignant. It tells a story about guilt and how contemporary society has learned to cope with it (for example, through monthly donations of 2 euros to help Ukraine). The main character, a court executor, evicts a homeless old man from a basement, and he commits suicide almost before her eyes. She tries to overcome her feelings of guilt, but no one can help her with that.

Jude does not hold a high opinion of humanity, and this film serves as one of the proofs that he might be right.

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There is also a tradition at Berlinale: before the premiere, a local photographer takes pictures of festival participants. These are displayed in the festival palace, and stars sign them.

Radu Jude turned his signature on the poster into a political statement. He wrote "Fuck Putin + Trump."