Berlin 1997

Abstract

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE HISTORY OF THE BERLINALE, or the first time in the history of the Berlinale, a Latin American entry was awarded the Golden Bear: Walter Salles's Central do Brazil (Central Station) (Brazil). And for the second time, Dutch animation director Gerrit van Dijk was awarded a Golden Bear for Best Short Film -- in 1989 for I Move, So I Am. Generally speaking, critics and public agreed that the festival prizes at the 48th Berlin International Film Festival (11-22 February 1998) went to the right films and directors. Two Irish films were standouts. Jim Sheridan's The Boxer (a co-production with the USA) continued his insightful dialogue on the crisis in North Ireland -- together with In the Name of the Father (1993) and Some Mother's Son (1996) it appears to form a trilogy -- and confirmed once again that Daniel Day-Lewis is one...