As always, the 2020 edition of BIFFES too will witness prime-time viewing of top German films. We are proud to be part of the
12th Bengaluru International Film Festival (
BIFFES) with a package of
7 recent
German feature films.
For updated screening schedule and entry information, please visit the
BIFFES 2020 website.
All About Me (Der Junge muss an die frische Luft)
Caroline Link | 2018 | 100 min.
© Julia Terjung / UFA Fiction
Ruhr Valley, Germany, 1972. Hans-Peter is a pudgy nine year-old growing up in the security of his family and fun-loving relatives. At first sight he might not be the most popular guy, but he has a talent for making others laugh, which he refines on a daily basis in his grandmother’s corner shop. However, dark shadows soon loom over the boy’s everyday life as his once cheerful mum becomes more and more depressed after an operation. Hans-Peter’s sad and hardworking father leaves him mostly in the care of his two grandmas, both of whom have big hearts and strong personalities. Their love and care make it possible for Hans Peter to survive the ensuing emotional turmoil and use his comedic talents to heal his own wounds while also making people laugh along with him.
A Regular Woman (Nur eine Frau)
Sherry Hormann | 2019 | 96 min.
© Mathias Bothor
Aynur is shot to death by her brother Nuri on a busy street in Berlin. Without suspecting anything, she accompanies him to the bus stop down the road, while her five-year-old son Can is asleep in her apartment only a few hundred miles away. How could this happen, what led to this deed?
A Regular Woman is based on the true story of Hatun ‘Aynur’ Sürücü, murdered in Berlin when she was 23 by her brother to preserve the family’s honour.
Balloon (Ballon)
Michael Herbig | 2018 | 125 min.
© Marco Nagel
Summer 1979 – the families Strezlzyk and Wetzel want to escape from the GDR and go to West Germany. After two years of preparations and planning, the families have decided to escape at night in a self-built hot-air balloon. The first attempt is unfortunately unsuccessful and the balloon has to make an emergency landing just before the border. The damaged balloon gets carried away by the wind and is found by the Stasi. Both, the Strelzyks as well as the Wetzels know it won’t be long before the Stasi are onto them. Feverishly, they start building a new, more stable balloon to undertake another attempt to escape.
Gundermann
Andreas Dresen | 2018 | 127 min.
© Peter Hartwig, Pandora Film
Gerhard Gundermann (1955-1998) was a heavy equipment operator at a lignite strip mine and a Stasi informer, but above all he was a gifted singer-songwriter with a fan base in both the former GDR as well as the subsequent, reunified Germany. The film looks at the life of Gerhard “Gundi” Gundermann – one of the most formative music artists of East Germany – with sensitivity, affection, and humour.
Lara
Jan de Gerster | 2019 | 98 min.
© Julia Terjung/Studiocanal GmbH
Lara’s day seems to start like any other — with a cup of tea and a cigarette. Still, today is a very special day for two reasons: Not only is it her 60th birthday, but for the first time, her son Victor is also giving a grand solo performance of piano music he composed himself. However, unlike Viktor‘s father Paul and his new girlfriend, Lara is not invited. Nevertheless, Lara has her own plans for the day. She buys the last tickets for the show and distributes them according to her very idiosyncratic ways. In any case, the events of the day unfold in a completely unexpected manner.
Oray
Mehmet Akif Büyükatalay | 2019 | 100 min.
© filmfaust, Christian Kochmann
In an argument with his wife Burcu, Oray pronounces the Islamic word for separation, "talaq". The Imam informs him of the consequences: Oray must now part from Burcu for three months. Oray uses the enforced break in their relationship to make a fresh start and moves to Cologne. When Burcu pays her husband a surprise visit, they realise that they still love each other. But now Oray is caught between his belief in love and his love for his faith.
System Crasher (Systemsprenger)
Nora Fingscheidt | 2019 | 120 min.
© kineo Filmproduktion/Weydemann Bros
She is small, but dangerous. Wherever Benni ends up, she is immediately expelled. The wild 9-year-old girl has already become what child protection services call a “system crasher”. And she is certainly not looking to change her ways. Because Benni has one single goal: to be back at home with her mommy! But Bianca is scared of her own daughter. Mrs Bafané from child protection services is trying her best to find a solution for Benni and hires the anger management trainer Micha as Benni’s school escort and suddenly there is a seed of hope. Will Micha be able to succeed where all others despaired?
*The films will be screened at four different venues: PVR Cinemas, Orion Mall I Navrang Theatre I Kalavidara Sangha I Suchitra Film Society.
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