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Wenders takes Golden Bear for a lifetime in film

Renowned director German Wim Wenders was presented with the Berlinale's Golden Bear for a lifetime of movie achievements on Thursday evening.

Published: 13 February 2015 10:56 CET

Wenders takes Golden Bear for a lifetime in film

Wim Wenders with his Golden Bear award. Photo: DPA

Brazilian director Walter Salles said in the presentation speech that Wenders was “one of the greatest filmmakers of all time.”

“What Wenders taught us was a moral compass, but also an aesthetic one and one regarding content for film-making,” he said.

The 69-year-old asked that his 1977 thriller “The American Friend” (Der amerikanische Freund), starring Bruno Ganz and Dennis Hopper, be screened at the gala presentation.

One of his most famous movies, it was based on the novel “Ripley's Game” by Patricia Highsmith, whose book “Strangers on a Train” was adapted for the screen by Alfred Hitchcock in 1951.

Berlinale director Dieter Kosslick said that in Wenders, the festival was honouring one of the most renowned contemporary auteur film-makers.

“His genre-spanning and multi-faceted work as a film-maker, photographer and author has marked our memory of films,” Kosslick said.

Berlin mayor Michael Müller said that the city was “proud and thankful that one of the greatest film-makers is a fellow citizen of the city.”

One of Wenders' films, 1987's “Wings of Desire” (Der Himmel über Berlin), the story of an angel who falls to earth in the city during the era of the Berlin Wall, is perhaps the most famous depiction of the divided capital ever committed to celluloid.

Ten of Wenders' movies will be shown during the film festival.

Recognition of his talent won't end with the Berlinale, as he is currently in the running for an Oscar for his documentary film about Brazilian photographer Sebastião Salgado.

Third time could be the charm for Wenders, after his previous nominations for “Pina” and “Buena Vista Social Club” failed to bear fruit.

SEE ALSO: The complete guide to Berlinale's main line-up

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Cinema in France

Photo: Loic Venance/AFP

The cinema group Lost in Frenchlation runs regular screenings of French films in the capital, with English subtitles to help non-native speakers follow the action. The club kicks off every screening with drinks at the cinema’s bar one hour before the movie, so it’s also a fun way to meet people if you’re new to Paris.

These are the events they have coming up in November.

Friday, November 5th

Boîte Noire – What happened on board the Dubai-Paris flight before it crashed in the Alps? In this thriller Matthieu, a young and talented black box analyst played by Pierre Niney (star of Yves Saint-Laurent among other movies) is determined to solve the reason behind this deadly crash, no matter the costs.

The screening will take place at the Club de l’étoile cinema at 8pm. But you can arrive early for drinks at the bar from 7pm.

Tickets are €10 full price, €8 for students and all other concessions, and can be reserved here.

Sunday, November 14th

Tralala – In the mood for music? This new delightful French musical brings you into the life of Tralala (played by Mathieu Amalric), a 48 years old, homeless and worn-out street singer, who one day gets mistaken for someone else. Tralala sees an opportunity to get a better life by taking on a new personality. He now has a brother, nephews, ex-girlfriends, and maybe even a daughter. But where is the lie? Where is the truth? And who is he, deep down?

The night will start with drinks from 6pm followed by the screening at 7pm at the Luminor Hôtel de Ville cinema. There is also a two-hour cinema-themed walk where you’ll be taken on a “musicals movie tour” in the heart of Paris, which begins at 4pm.

Tickets cost €10, or €8 for students and concessions, and can be found here. Tickets for the walking tour cost €20 and must be reserved online here.

Thursday, November 18th

Illusions Perdues – Based on the great novel series by Honoré de Balzac between 1837 and 1843, this historical drama captures the writer Lucien’s life and dilemmas who dreams about a great career of writing and moves to the city to get a job at a newspaper. As a young poet entering the field of journalism, he is constantly challenged by his desire to write dramatic and eye-catching stories for the press. But are they all true?

The evening will kick off with drinks at L’Entrepôt cinema bar at 7pm, followed by the movie screening at 8pm. Tickets are available online here, and cost €8.50 full price; €7 for students and all other concessions.

Sunday, November 21st

Eiffel – Having just finished working on the Statue of Liberty, Gustave Eiffel (played by Romain Duris) is tasked with creating a spectacular monument for the 1889 Universal Exposition in Paris. It’s ultimately his love story with Adrienne Bourgès (Emma Mackey) that will inspire him to come up with the idea for the Eiffel Tower.

After a first screening last month, Lost in Frenchlation is organising a new one at the Luminor Hôtel de Ville cinema, with pre-screening drinks at the cinema bar.

Tickets cost €10, or €8 for students and concessions, and can be found here.

Thursday, November 25th

Les Héroïques – Michel is a former junkie and overgrown child who only dreams of motorbikes and of hanging out with his 17-year-old son Léo and his friends. But at 50 years old, he now has to handle the baby he just had with his ex, and try not to make the same mistakes he has done in the past.

The film will be followed by a Q&A with the director Maxime Roy who will discuss his very first feature.

Tickets cost €10, or €8 for students and concessions, and can be found here.

Full details of Lost in Frenchlation’s events can be found on their website or Facebook page. In France, a health pass is required in order to go to the cinema.

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