The Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale), dubbed one of the world’s top three film festivals, opened in early February. This year, the Berlinale also screened two Taiwan-made films.
Curator Wieland Speck
"It’s a [different] place, a [different] world… It’s a very different world for us. I’m in Taipei every year to look for films from Taiwan, and I always find [good] films from Taiwan. It’s a magical cinematic land, and not only for cinematic reasons."
A marginalized life in ‘Thanatos, Drunk’
The festival’s “Panorama” program features 34 feature films from 29 nations, including Taiwanese director Chang Tso-chi’s “Thanatos, Drunk.”
Curator Wieland Speck
"It’s an astonishing work about two brothers and their mother, and how they go through life. [It’s] an amazing, a very rich way of telling, from a little family through their own troubles, and how to survive."
Two Taiwanese films selected by Berlinale
The other Taiwan-made film in the program is Doze Niu’s “Paradise in Service.”
Curator Wieland Speck
"I’m looking forward to it. This film may help a little bit of Asian regions to force certain powers not to neglect their past. That could actually be something this film could bring."
Taboo subjects discussed through film
The curator said the film is beautifully done. Although the story about military brothels might disturb some audience members, the curator welcomes its screening at the festival. Only by talking about taboos and encouraging the audience to discuss them could the public reflect and make changes.