07/02/2009

One of the most highly anticipated titles of the Berlinale screened in Competition today: Storm [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Alexander Fehling
interview: Hans-Christian Schmid
film profile] by German director Hans-Christian Schmid. The film is the first on The Hague’s ICTY (the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia), and the repercussions of European politics on its decisions.

In the classic tradition of the court thriller, Schmid’s third film at Berlin (following Lichter in 2003 and Requiem [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Hans-Christian Schmid
interview: Hans-Christian Schmid
interview: Sandra Hueller
film profile] in 2006) centres on an ICTY prosecutor (Kerry Fox, aged for the film) who after the suicide of a witness discovers a secret that the sister of the deceased (Anamaria Marinca) could bring to light, and revitalise her career and the case.

The complex network of diplomatic exchanges will veto a fact that risks blocking European politics, through to a dramatic ending that leaves audiences bitterly unsure over the possibility of justice.

At the press conference, Schmid spoke of the motivation behind his project: "We had two main stories to tell, the war in the former Yugoslavia and that of two women. We did a lot of research and ultimately decided to show the work of the ICTY, the various internal strategies of the United Nations without, however, explaining too much. We wanted certain questions to remain open".

To offer his actors greater freedom of movement, the director mostly used a Handycam: "Our team worked well and we liked the idea of being able to interact within the space,” he added.

The over €6m film is one of three titles Denmark’s Zentropa has vying for the Golden Bear at this year’s Berlinale. The Hvidovre-based company, run by Peter Aalbæk Jensen (see interview), co-produced Storm with 23/5 Filmproduktion, Zentropa Entertainments Berlin, Zentropa International Köln, Zentropa Entertainments5, Zentropa International Netherlands, IDTV Film and Film I Väst, and with funding from broadcasters SWR, ARTE and WDR.

Piffl Medien will release the film in Germany on September 10, while international sales are behind handled by TrustNordisk.

(Translated from Italian)