The selection of short films in the 75th edition of the Berlinale focuses on the lives and experiences of people. Divided into five subsections, it explores what it means to be human. However, the second set of short films was particularly impactful for me.
Children’s Day (dir. Giselle Lin) follows a schoolgirl navigating a life of abuse. While her home life is challenging, she finds comfort in school. The director showcases the raw and unfiltered nature of childhood. Ultimately, the film leaves the viewer with a touching quote: “What is it like being eight? I think I forgot.” echoing that growing up means forgetting, but also letting go.
Kámen Osudu (dir. Julie Černá) follows a lonely entity, plagued by the inability to let go of the past. In a bittersweet song, it expresses its alienation, singing: “I miss feelings that I have never felt.” However, in its venture for purpose, it finds a guiding light toward acceptance. The film ends with the stone happily drifting into the sea, symbolically letting go and simply going with the flow of life. It is a sweet tale of friendship and growth, and as the director notes, Kámen Osudu is her, but she also hopes that it is us.
Water is essential to Anba dlo (dir. Luiza Calagian, Rosa Caldeira), approaching the topics of grief and death through Haitian Creole and Vodou. Death and birth form a closed circle. A baby has to spend nine months in the water of the womb of the mother, and similar is the fate of the dead spirit, having to leave the world through Anba dlo (a watery grave).
The final entry, Lloyd Wong, Unfinished (dir. Lesley Loksi Chan), juxtaposes living with AIDS against public perception. Lloyd shares his experiences while a cooking show plays in the background, revealing on society’s apathetic nature. In the interview, the director shared the sad reality of posthumous films. Lloyd’s recordings were stored away, among the testimonies of many other individuals, creating a second graveyard. The footage was discovered thirty years later and displayed at the Berlinale, marking Lloyd’s final resting spot.
Thus, the Berlinale cements itself as an influential film festival, simultaneously showcasing new and young voices from a global background, adding a breath of fresh air to festivals.
Anba dlo by Luiza Calagian, Rosa Caldeira
© Luiza Calagian, Rosa Caldeira
Provided via Berlinale Press Photos