Someone needs to check the bulb - this light isn't working right. The Berlin Film Festival continues its long-running streak of choosing really bad films as the Opening Night selection at the festival. For nearly 10 years running (so far), Berlinale makes a big show of its opening film being an exciting premiere, and yet they continue to be forgettable, excruciating, mediocre films no matter what. It's a depressing way to start a film festival. Tom Tykwer's new film Das Licht (aka The Light) maintains this pattern of mediocrity - taking us on a 2 hour, 42 minute journey around Berlin following an annoying German family. I wish it was better. I wish I could be raving about Tykwer's return to cinema. But this is one giant mess. The classic cliche of "he bit off more than he could chew" works for this film, as it's trying to address so many different topics about modern day German society and barely any of it works. It's a story about a family, but no it's a story about Germany, but no it's a story about refugees, but no it's a story about a Syrian woman living in Germany, but no it's a about selfishness, but no it's about Berlin. Is it about all of that? Or none of it? Does anyone know? // Continue Reading ›