Berlin 1995

Abstract

IF IT WAS SAID ONCE it was said a hundred times: "The cinema was invented a hundred years ago but today's filmmakers don't know how to make movies. After a century of existence they are rapidly going backwards." A sweeping statement and fortunately, there are exceptions, but this was the consensus at the conclusion of the showing of the Competition films at Berlin's 45th International Film Festival. By general agreement this year's festival has not matched up to last year's standards which were themselves lower than the year before. All of which leads to the questions frequently asked among the ranks of the media - is this the best that Moritz de Hadeln could find? Is Cannes proving to be a continuing stumbling block to obtaining the best entries? Or is he losing his sense of judgment after 15 years in charge? The film expected to win the Golden...