Award
Film about life: “Dying” wins German Film Prize
The film “Die” by director Matthias Glasner was awarded the Lola in Gold. photo
© Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/dpa
Favorite “Die” wins the German Film Prize. Before that, Holocaust survivor Margot Friedländer provides a moving moment. And Hanna Schygulla for smiles.
Contrary to what the title suggests, it is actually a film about life: Matthias Glasner’s three-hour drama “Die” won the Golden Lola for best feature film at the German Film Prize. Overall, the film about a broken family, which was the favorite at the awards ceremony with nine nominations, won four on Friday evening Awards. Glasner was visibly touched and slightly surprised on stage. “I’m pretty freaked out, to be honest.”
But the most moving performance at the big gala in the Theater am Potsdamer Platz in Berlin was made by a 102-year-old. “There are a lot of storytellers in this room. You have the responsibility to use the power of film so that something like this never happens again,” Holocaust survivor Margot Friedländer appealed to the filmmakers as she was led onto the stage. “I ask you to support me so that history does not repeat itself.” There was a standing ovation and thunderous applause from the audience for her speech. Some had tears in their eyes.
Film academy bosses remind people of solidarity
Director Florian Gallenberger, who heads the German Film Academy with actress Alexandra Maria Lara, recalled solidarity. This is needed more than ever at the moment. Lara emphasized that the film academy positions itself against any form of exclusion, hatred, racism and anti-Semitism. Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth (Greens) said at the beginning: “I believe nobody, nobody here remains untouched by the misery of violence, by the uncertainty, by the increasing division in society, by the massive threats to which democracy and culture are exposed.”
Another appearance, however, caused a smile. Actress Hanna Schygulla was awarded the Film Academy’s honorary award. During her acceptance speech, which she took with her to the stage handwritten on paper, she got lost – and remained standing on the stage when the organizers were actually already playing the music that was supposed to mark the end of the speech. As an icon, she sometimes likes to stand out from the crowd, said the 80-year-old, who was honored for her outstanding contributions to German film.
Three awards for “The Theory of Everything”
Awards were given out in numerous categories: there was no clear winner until the end. In addition to the Golden Lola for best feature film, “Die” received a prize for best film music (Lorenz Dangel). Corinna Harfouch was also honored as best leading actress, and Hans-Uwe Bauer was honored for best male supporting role. The mystery thriller “The Theory of Everything” by Timm Kröger won three awards, as did “Im dead Winkel”, a gripping political thriller by Ayşe Polat.
Director Glasner had already won a Silver Bear for his script at the Berlinale in February. His drama is not easy fare. The starting point is the death of his father Gerd (Bauer), who suffers from dementia. This means that the members of the Lunies family have to deal with each other again. Love, affection and warmth of heart are foreign words to them. Glasner devotes several chapters to them in the film. It quickly becomes clear that the seriously ill mother Lissy (Harfouch) is also nearing the end of her life. Harfouch plays the aloof and cold Lissy particularly convincingly.
Eidinger not at the award ceremony in Berlin
“Die” actor Lars Eidinger congratulated live via video link. The actor is currently working on a new film with Hollywood star George Clooney, among others. Eidinger himself came away empty-handed in the category for best male lead. Instead, the Austrian actor Simon Morzé prevailed there. In the historical film “The Fox” he plays an Austrian soldier who raises a young fox during World War II.
The Austrian Adele Neuhauser took home Lola as best supporting actress in the drama “15 Years”. The best documentary film was “Seven Winters in Tehran” by Steffi Niederzoll about a young Iranian woman sentenced to death.
The German Film Prize is one of the most important awards in the industry. The nominations and awards are worth a total of around three million euros for new projects. The money comes from Minister of State for Culture Roth’s house. In 2023, “The Teacher’s Room” by Ilker Çatak won the Golden Lola.
German Film Prize Winner at the German Film Prize 2024