Russia (bbabo.net), - The competition of the 72nd Berlinale is reminiscent of the 2022 Decameron by this minute. Love stories one after another, and each one with a moral. The theme of a woman's place in love relationships - healthy and unhealthy - runs like a red thread through a number of paintings.

One of the most notable "Call Jane". Directed by Phyllis Nage was even previously nominated for an Oscar. True, as a screenwriter, she was preparing an adapted screenplay for Todd Haynes' film "Carol," starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara.

"Call Jane" is based on a true story, and in January at the Sundance Film Festival, where it had its international film premiere, a documentary on the same subject, The Janes, was screened in parallel. In Chicago in the 1960s, abortion was illegal. Sometimes even if they were needed for medical reasons - such a case is shown in the picture. An underground organization helped women in trouble. "Jane" in this case is a cover name - none of the participants were called that. The main roles in the film were played by Sigourney Weaver and Elizabeth Banks - alas, due to the pandemic, both did not come to the festival in Berlin, although they were expected here.

But the fearless Charlotte Gainsbourg and Emmanuelle Beart arrived, but they are closer. The competition film they both starred in is called Night Passengers (directed by Mikael Hers) and is reminiscent of Sleepless in Seattle, only with a modern agenda turned towards the women's movement. The heroine Gainsbourg's name is Elisabeth. She lives with two children in an apartment in a new building - only squares of new houses are visible from the windows. She broke up with her husband and had to go to work. He gets a job on the radio, where on the famous presenter Wanda (Bear) communicates, like a kind of psychotherapist, with those who cannot sleep at night. One of the guests on the radio is the girl Talulah, whose family emigrated to Paris. Elizabeth lets the migrant into her house, and, in fact, she already has three children who need to be taken care of, protected and guided. At the same time, do not forget that she herself is still a young woman and has the right to count on her personal happiness.

But the heroine of the Turkish actress Meltem Kaptan devotes her whole life to motherhood. Meltem Kaptan is also at the festival, but she is, as they say, very close - like her character in the competition film "Rabbi Kurnatz vs. George Bush" (directed by Andreas Dresen), she has long been assimilated in Germany, where she lives. Bright, bursting with love for life in all its manifestations, Meltem literally "carries on her shoulders" a picture of how a mother of many children in the 2000s rescued her first child from prison in Guantanamo Bay, where he unfairly ended up on charges of the 9/11 terrorist attack. Together with the lawyer, whose role was brilliantly played by the actor Alexander Scheer, Rabi proves that there are no obstacles, high positions, prohibitions and boundaries for maternal love. The film is actually similar to the series and certainly cannot be compared with the recent film "The Mauritanian", in which the main roles were played by Jodie Foster and Tahar Rahim (also raises the topic of Guantanamo prisoners). But, looking at Meltem Kaptan, almost every viewer understands that he really wants to get such a mother-protector who will save and hide from all worldly hardships. Also tasty food.

Indonesian actress Happy Salma also came to Berlin to present the film "Nana" directed by Camilla Andini. The English title of the painting Before, Now and Then ("Before, now and then") fully illustrates the story, so to speak, of a richly living poor woman. Nana is also a mother of many children, but even with a wealthy husband, life is not easy for her, and besides, she does not let go of the past. She decides to change her life, which is not easy, but it turns out that the act, in particular the divorce that brought her so much anxiety, will help to find peace and confidence and give her a chance to come to terms with those events that have traumatized her for life.

Emma Thompson lit up the Berlinale with a bright star. The film with her participation "Good luck, Leo Grande!" - in the program of the gala premiere Berlinale Special. However, the story of how a school teacher decided to invite a call guy, which radically changed the lives of both, fits well into the competitive agenda of this year's festival. It just turned out to be more audience cinema, while the competition prefers long authorial statements.

By the way, according to information, this film was bought in Russia, and our viewers will be able to watch it this year, however, the name in our country will be different - "Love on Call". They also bought the "Call Jane" tape to show to the Russians.But let's get back to Thomson, who "shaken up" the festival both from the screen and in reality. The main value of her arrival is that she expressed the idea that at any age it is not too late to change, you cannot turn your life into a stagnant swamp. Especially at such a moment when reality presents one surprise after another. Perhaps this is the main message of the entire festival this year, which is forced to respond with lightning speed to the constant changes in the world around us.

Direct speech

Emma Thompson:

Many people with whom I discussed the film said that they would be interested in seeing other, new stories, either about the character of a call boy who hides behind the pseudonym Leo Grande, or about women who turn to him in the future. And also - about my heroine, and about how she will now live her changes - both external and internal, in particular - her newfound sexuality. That is, I want to say that this story has many options for further development that would be interesting to the audience.

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