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Hotly sought after: Cillian Murphy signs autographs on the opening night of the Berlinale.
© Hannes P Albert/dpa
Would “Oppenheimer” star Cillian Murphy prefer to win at the Berlinale or the Oscars?
At the opening gala of the film festival he gives an answer.
Otherwise it becomes political.
Berlin - The Berlinale opened amid political protests.
At an event organized by the film festival, actresses such as Jella Haase and Katja Riemann shouted “Defend Democracy” on the red carpet on Thursday evening.
The star of the opening film, “Oppenheimer” actor Cillian Murphy, almost faded into the background.
There were other political actions and statements on the carpet.
The festival management used the opening gala to make a plea against right-wing extremism.
“No place for hate”: Festival management positions itself
“The Berlinale has a lot: a lot of space for dialogue between people and art.
But she has no room for hate.
Hate is not on our guest list,” said Berlinale co-director Mariette Rissenbeek during the gala.
“Many people in the Berlinale team, but also in the circle of friends and acquaintances, are affected by the AfD's intentions to expel people with a migrant background from the country and to deport them.
We as a festival cannot and do not want to tolerate that.”
Along with Cannes and Venice, the Berlinale is one of the world's largest film festivals.
© Fabian Sommer/dpa
Berlin's Governing Mayor Kai Wegner (CDU) emphasized: “The Berlinale stands for cosmopolitanism, for freedom, for democracy, variety, diversity, solidarity and cohesion.
The AfD doesn’t stand for any of that.” The background was a debate about the invitation and disinvitation of several AfD politicians to the opening gala.
After international criticism, the Berlinale excluded the party representatives.
The Berlin AfD state and parliamentary group leader Kristin Brinker had criticized the disinvitation as a “cultural-political beacon”.
A few days ago she pointed out that she had been invited for the past two years and had taken up the offer.
Roth: Our democracy is threatened by enemies
At the opening gala, Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth focused on conflicts and wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, for example.
“Our democracy is not immune either,” she said.
“It is threatened by its enemies.” With reference to right-wing populists and right-wing extremists, Roth spoke of enemies of the open society.
“They want to decompose and destroy this republic, our liberal democracy.” She added: “Against their racism and hatred, we put the beauty of diversity, we put respect and courage, we put joy and understanding, we put empathy and humanity.”
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Some actors and actresses also made political statements on the red carpet.
Several people wore buttons with the inscription “Berlinale against right-wing extremism”.
When asked why it was so important to her to set an example for democracy, Jella Haase said: “Because it frightens me with what indifference, with what normality people almost go to the polls and put their cross on parties. who simply clearly and obviously distinguish themselves with right-wing radical ideas.”
Papis Loveday protests for democracy at the Berlinale.
© Hannes P Albert/dpa
Several people also carried signs in memory of the victims of the 2020 Hanau racist attack, the anniversary of which was February 19th.
Before her speech, festival director Rissenbeek also emphasized the glamorous sides of the Berlinale on stage - and mentioned that she was particularly looking forward to Cillian Murphy.
“Oppenheimer” star in the opening film
Murphy is the protagonist of the opening film “Small Things Like These”.
The drama is about a historic scandal involving church institutions in Ireland.
Director Tim Mielants tells a story against the backdrop of the so-called Magdalen laundries in Ireland.
Thousands of pregnant young women were exploited in these church institutions between the 1820s and 1996.
As a rule, they were also forced to give their newborn children up for adoption to homes and monasteries.
The first guests stand on the red carpet in front of the Berlinale Palace during the opening of the 74th Berlinale.
© Soeren Stache/dpa
The film adaptation follows the inner struggle of a coal dealer portrayed by Murphy in a small Irish town in the 1980s: Should he adapt and remain silent - or rebel against injustice?
The Irish actor also stars Eileen Walsh, Michelle Fairley and Emily Watson.
Mielants, known for directing several episodes of the series “Peaky Blinders,” which also starred Murphy, relies entirely on the charisma of his star.
The political dimension almost fades into the background.
The opening film reveals a lot about one of the main focuses of this year's competition: psychograms of broken characters.
The appearance of Murphy, who presented the film with producer and “Oppenheimer” colleague Matt Damon, among others, was eagerly awaited in the capital.
Many fans stood at barriers to secure an autograph.
A journalist praised the Oscar-nominated Murphy and said he thought his performance in “Small Things Like These” was better than in “Oppenheimer.”
When asked at the evening gala whether he would prefer to win the Berlinale's main prize, the Golden Bear, or the Oscar, Murphy later replied: "Can I have both?" dpa