German Gems
Contemporary German cinema arrives at the Castro Theater on Sunday, February 28th, with the first one-day German Gems festival. Five films will be shown, one after the other, with the first, "Tender Parasites", beginning at noon, and the last, "The Bone Man", screening at 9:15. Between 6:00 and 7:00 there will be a reception for the filmmakers in attendance.
San Francisco moviegoers may remember the Berlin and Beyond Festival in years past; German Gems is a pared down version of this festival. While Berlin and Beyond lasted for a week and featured recent movies from Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the current incarnation of the festival is showing four German films and one from Austria ("The Bone Man"), all in one, movie-packed day. A $40 Festival Pass allows you to see all five movies, and general admission is $10 and $8 for students and seniors.
German cinema is varied and unique, and few movies make it to our shores. This festival is an opportunity to catch a glimpse of one of Europe's least recognized filmmaking nations. Though not as lush and sensual as movies from Italy, France and Spain, Germany produces a handful of movies every few years that capture the attention of the American public. Nearly 10 years ago, this was the case with "Run Lola Run", launching the career of future "Bourne Identity" star Franka Potente (and countless shocking red hairstyles). More recently, the amazing Cold Wa- era thriller "The Lives of Others" won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film in 2007. With a crime drama and the life story of a recently canonized saint among the offerings, this festival offers a diverse selection of movies. Much more information is available at the German Gems site- don't miss it!
