22/04/2005

One of the highlights of this year’s fantastic selection is obviously Wim Wenders’ Don’t Come Knocking [+see also:
trailer
film profile]. The script was written by Sam Shepard (who also plays the leading role), the author of Paris, Texas, the film which won Wenders the Golden Palm in 1984. Don’t Come Knocking, produced by Reverse Angle Production (Hamburg), in association with Reverse Angle International (Berlin) and ARTE France Cinema, is the story of a declining Hollywood star, who decides, after a drinking night, to leave the set of the western he is currently shooting. Shortly afterwards, he learns that he has a child, and goes on a quest for fatherhood.

If Wenders’ is the only film to officially represent Germany in competition, a few German coproductions were selected, and they are no outsiders, for these films are : Lars von Trier’s Manderlay [+see also:
trailer
film profile], co-produced by Pain Unlimited (Cologne), Hidden [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Margaret Menegoz
interview: Michael Haneke
film profile] by the Austrian director Michael Haneke, co-produced by Bavaria Film (Munich), and Battle in Heaven [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Carlos Reygadas
interview: Jean Labadie
film profile] by Carlos Reygadas, co-produced by Essential Filmproduktion (Berlin).
Amongst the special screenings, there is a musical stroll, Crossing the Bridge - The Sound of Istanbul [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Fatih Akin, a documentary produced by Intervista DM and Corazón International (Hamburg), and Merry Christmas [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Christian Carion
interview: Christophe Rossignon
film profile] by Christian Carion, co-produced by Senator Film (Berlin).

Germany will also be present in the parallel sections, such as Un Certain Regard, which will screen Low Profile by Christoph Hochhaeusler, a Heimatfilm production (Cologne), and two German co-productions : Sleeper, by Benjamin Heisenberg, co-produced by Juicy Film and the Academy of Television & Film (Munich), and Johanna [+see also:
trailer
film profile], by Kornél Mundruzcó, co-produced by Thermidor Filmproduktion (Cologne).

Finally, amongst the 18 projects which will be presented during the brand new workshop organised by Cinéfondation ('l‘Atelier du Festival'), Germany will be represented by Sooner or Later by Ulrike von Ribbeck.

When the selection was made official, Wenders said it was 'very fancy', and added, 'It is nicer to compete against Jim Jarmusch and Atom Egoyan than against Shrek and George Bush'.

(Translated from French)