Siblings Oskar ( Leopold Pallua ) and Lilli ( Rosa Zant ) have been living with their mother
Ein bisschen bleiben wir noch ( Oskar & Lilli ) *** Austria 2019 Opening September 2 , 2021
Director : Arash T . Riahi Writing credits : Arash T . Riahi Principal actors : Leopold Pallua , Rosa Zant , Christine Ostermayer , Alexandra Maria Nutz
Betty ( Anna Fenderl ) in Austria for six years without a legal residency permit . They are originally from Chechnya . In desperation , Betty cuts her veins in a suicide attempt , is sent to the hospital , and then to a home , where she sits in a wheelchair . Special services collects the children ( who try to run away and hide ) and delivers each to a different foster family . Lilli now lives with a single woman , Rut ( Simone Furth ), who has a boyfriend , Georg ( Rainer Vöss ). Oskar lives with a young couple and their baby , as well as the family grandmother Erika ( Christine Ostermayer ). Oskar and Lilli try to adjust to the new conditions : strangers , vegetarians , no car , grandma suffering from Parkinson ’ s , etc . Lilli has an unfortunate experience with another girl at school , who is not a real friend . Although separated , the children manage to communicate on their mobile phones and meet up often , once at their former apartment , now occupied by a new family ; they visit their mother in her home . Oskar seems mature beyond his years , establishing a loyal friendship with Grandma Erika , even babysitting her and the family baby . He suggests to Lilli that they act like bad kids in order to be reunited . He writes letters to his mother and even finds a source of money . They dream of running away to Argentina .
The film is based on the book Oskar und Lilli by Austrian author Monika Helfer , which originally came out in 1994 . Here Oskar is seven and Lilli is nine . In the film , the children seem to have lots of independent time to meet . In real life , I doubt that foster families would allow this much freedom . It would be interesting to learn how much of the film is based on director Arash T . Riahi ’ s own immigration experiences , having left Iran at age 12 and moving with his family to Austria in 1984 . ( Becky Tan )
The Father ***** UK | France 2020 Opening August 26 , 2021
Director : Florian Zeller Writing credits : Christopher Hampton , Florian Zeller Principal actors : Anthony Hopkins , Olivia Colman , Mark Gatiss , Olivia Williams , Imogen Poots
The Father is the first film by acclaimed French playwright Florian Zeller , for which he also won an Oscar for best adapted screenplay . It has the feeling of a play , as almost all the action is confined to a lovely apartment where the aging father ( Anthony Hopkins ) lives cared for by his daughter , Ann ( Olivia Colman ). However , we know something is wrong almost immediately in the way he gingerly touches a couple of random notes on the well-worn piano or abruptly pulls off his headphones while listening to opera . Then scenes repeat themselves with different characters and different outcomes . Where is the story ? Are we being played and deceived ?
We are seeing the world through the eyes of the father . It is a frightening view of inescapable consequences that affect one ’ s perceptions , even vision , causing distrust and confusion , associated with the onset of dementia . We become the father , thanks to Hopkins ’ amazing ( Best Actor Oscar 2021 ) performance as he tries to navigate these contradictions , fighting and eventually acquiescing . Colman`s ( Oscar nominated ) role , in contrast , is a mourning of loss ; for instance , she lovingly touches the fabrics in his closet , trying to get close to him in any way now left to her .
Along with Hopkins and Colman , opera music is a major actor in the film . Favorite arias with themes of “ pleading to a greater power outside oneself ” dramatically fit and add beauty and universal integrity to this generational tragedy . Mr . Zeller proves to be a real family man . The Father was preceded by his 2019 play , The Mother ( starring Isabelle Huppert ), and please look forward to his coming film , The Son , with Hugh Jackman and Laura Dern !
Opera music in The Father : Purcell , “ What Power Art Thou ” from King Arthur Bellini , “ Casta Diva ” from Norma , sung by Maria Callas Bizet , “ Je Crois Entendre Encore ” from The Pearl Fishers ( Nancy Tilitz )
42 In Hamburg