Two Irish Films will be in competition at this years Berlin Children's Film Festival which begins today (February 11) and runs until the 20th February.
PETE'S METEOR the first feature film of writer director Joe O'Byrne is screening four times throughout the festival at the Urania Cinema in Berlin. The film is a realistic and gritty Dublin tale, leavened with magic. PETE'S METEOR tells the story of the Devine family - three orphaned kids and a grandmother - surviving in a drug riddled inner city neighbourhood. One night a meteor lands in their back garden and changes the lives of the family and especially that of Micky Devine forever. It is a Dublin fable told with heart and simplicity.
The lead role of Micky Devine is played by first time actor, 12 year old Ian Costello. Ian gives a mature and nuanced performance and is supported by Gavin Dowdall playing his brother Dave and Natasha Corcoran as his sister Sue.
Adult support is provided by Academy Award winning actress Brenda Fricker as the children's grandmother Lily Devine, Dervla Kirwan of Ballykissangel fame playing Carmel, Alfred Molina (Boogie Nights), as Dr. Hugh Weldon and Mike Myers ( Austin Powers, Wayne's World) as Pete.
PETE'S Meteor is the first feature film of Joe O'Byrne who is well known in Irish theatre circles as a playwright and director. Notable productions include the CoMotion Theatre Company's production of Pat McCabe's FRANK PIG SAYS HELLO which played at the Gate Theatre, the Royal Court in London and has toured successfully to New York and Australia, and the recent Macnas production of THE DEAD SCHOOL also written by Pat McCabe and starring Mick Lally - both directed by Joe O'Byrne.
Also showing is PATTERNS which has already claimed several awards including most recently the Grand Prix at the 11th International competition at the Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival in France. In the film Jim Sheridan's daughter Kirsten has succeeded in portraying the "patterns" of an autistic child with great respect
In all 15 feature films and 14 short films will compete for this year's CRYSTAL BEARS at the festival.
The festival will open with a world premiere: DE BAL (The Ball) by Dany Deprez (Belgium/Netherlands/Germany). City kids fight for their right for a place to play. A magic ball is a girl's companion in her search for recognition and friendship. Special effects and tricks are used sparingly but astonishingly. Emphasis is on human relationships and feelings.
In MISSING LINK, renown Dutch director Ger Poppelaars combines levels of reality and childlike fantasy. He sets bizarre elements to a serious story. His film, which takes place after the war, is about a child's search for its father.
In the third Dutch entry, Ineke Houtman's MADELIEF: KRASSEN IN HET TAFELBLAD (Scratches In The Table), a girl sorts out who she is by meeting her grandfather - played by Rijk De Gooijer.
The Scandinavian tradition of making films for children and adolescents is reflected in the participation of four titles. Well-known Norwegian author Torun Lian has filmed her prize-winning novel in BARE SKYER BEVEGER STJERNENE (Only Clouds Move the Stars). In her debut film, she shows - without fearing emotions - how a girl mourns for her brother and then rediscovers laughter. In STJÄRNSYSTRAR (Starsisters), three Johannas from Sweden share the same fate. Director Tobias Falk brings these young personalities together, giving them and the audience the feeling of not being alone in the world. Anne Marie Norholm's OLE ALEKSANDER FILIBOM-BOM-BOM (Ollie Alexander Tiddly-Om-Pom-Pom) lovingly portrays the world of five-year-olds. Her film is based on the famous Norwegian children's book by Anne-Cath. Vestly. Finnish entry POIKA JA ILVES (Tommy and the Wildcat) by Raimo O. Niemi is an adventure film par excellence. It focuses on the friendship between a boy and a lynx.
An outing becomes an adventure in ZWEI IN EINEM BOOT (Two In A Boot) by German director Cornelia Grünberg. With breathtaking shots, the film carries us off to the Mecklenburg lake district. Austrian Andreas Prochaska adapted the children's book DIE 3 POSTRÄUBER (The 3 Mail Robbers) by Christine Nöstlinger to the screen in a funny and fast-paced mix, between a children's whodunit and a comedy.
In A REUNIÃO DOS DEMÔNIOS (The Devil´s Meeting), Brazilian director A.S. Cecilio Neto examines childhood in the idyllic setting of a village in the 60s. Everyday rituals and the power of childlike faith play a major role in this film.
Jazz sets the rhythm in Gary Winick's THE TIC CODE (USA) . The film tells of the touching fate of a musically talented boy. Gregory Hines is brilliant here in the role of a saxophonist. In THE SWEETEST GIFT (Canada), Diahann Carol very convincingly plays a mother. Director Stuart Margolin portrays two families who are isolated. The children become friends and the families find their way to each other; in their solidarity, they become strong.
Valerij Prijomichov scriptwriter, director and a leading actor - shows the survival strategies of two adolescents in Russia today from a socio-critical angle. In an intense atmosphere, his film KTO, ESLI NE MIJ (Who, If Not We) mirrors the contrasts between life in the city and the country.
In MEHR-E MADARI (Maternal Love) Iran, a young boy seeks a mother's love as well as others to love. Kamal Tabrizi confronts us with devastatingly authentic images.
This year's short film directors all demonstrate great ability, as does Lien Willeart from Belgium in CHARLOTJE. Everything that happens can be read in the little girl's face. What she experiences remains a secret between her and the audience.
Michael McMahon 11/2/99
