An Iranian love story crafted by a dissident director duo and a chilling Austrian historical horror flick emerged as top contenders at the Berlin film festival, setting the stage for the awards night on Saturday.
Lupita Nyong’o, the Kenyan-Mexican Oscar winner and the first black jury president at the 74th annual event, will bestow the Golden and Silver Bear top prizes at a grand ceremony.
An international critics’ poll by Britain’s Screen magazine highlighted the bittersweet Iranian romance titled “My Favourite Cake” and Austria’s ultraviolent “The Devil’s Bath” as standout favorites among the 20 films in competition.
The success of “My Favourite Cake” carries poignant significance as its creators, Maryam Moghaddam and Behtash Sanaeeha, were barred by Iranian authorities from attending the Berlin premiere. The film narrates the tale of a retired nurse who finds solace in a night of revelry and intimacy with a fellow pensioner, away from the watchful eyes of the morality police.
Moghaddam, speaking via video link from Tehran, revealed that the film crossed numerous red lines forbidden in Iran for over four decades since the Islamic revolution. Critics lauded the movie as “wonderfully sweet and funny” and praised its energy and liberation.
In contrast, “The Devil’s Bath” portrays young women in 1750s rural Austria who resort to murder to evade eternal damnation, as dictated by religious doctrine. Lead actress Anja Plaschg delivers a compelling performance, supported by a haunting score, in this adaptation of historical court records. The film sheds light on a loophole in Roman Catholic dogma that allowed individuals, mostly women, to confess crimes before execution, thus escaping eternal condemnation.
The festival also showcased “Small Things Like These”, featuring the acclaimed Cillian Murphy, who unravels village secrets in the wake of Ireland’s notorious “Magdalene laundries”. Critics hailed Murphy’s performance as “staggering” in a narrative rich with dramatic depth.
French icon Isabelle Huppert charmed audiences in “A Traveller’s Needs”, while German tragicomedy “Dying” offered an extravagantly poignant portrayal of a dysfunctional family.
The Berlinale, alongside Cannes and Venice, remains a premier cinema platform in Europe. As the main awards ceremony approaches, anticipation builds to honor outstanding contributions to global cinema.
