Boos in Berlin

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"It's rare to hear journalists and critics vocally turn against a film at the Berlin International Film Festival," Indiewire's Eugene Hernandez wrote a little while ago. "Catcalls and hisses, while more common in Cannes, are actually rather rare on the international festival circuit. So, it came as a bit of a surprise to hear a loud 'boo,' then whistles, followed by tepid applause and another 'boo' this afternoon at the end of Lukas Moodysson's Mammoth."

Fascinating lead graph, but there's no payoff. All Hernandez says is that the ending is what offended. Okay, but that's it? Was it a failure to satisfyingly conclude, or an ending that contained a plot turn that people found deeply offensive? Did costars Gael Garcia Bernal and Michelle Willams drop trou and moon the camera? Surely there must b a way to convey what ticked people off without divulging the particulars.

"After the showing, the debate began and filmmaker Moodysson admitted that he's been surprised by audience reactions to his new movie."

Hernandez describes Mammoth as "an ambitious English-language story shot on three continents. Bernal and Williams portray an upwardy mobile New York City couple with a young daughter who is cared for by a Filipina maid. Desperate to return to the Phillipines, the noble nanny cooks, cleans and raises the American girl in order to make enough money to some day return to her own kids back home."

Okay, yeah....and?

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on February 8, 2009 at 8:21 AM

comment #1

the400blows says ...

To me, Moodysson is hit and miss. Heard his last 2 films (A Hole In My Heart and Container) weren't that good so I didn't bother to see them. It's too bad because I really liked Together and Lilja 4-ever. I was hoping Mammoth would bring him back to his former glory--especially since I'm a fan of all the principals involved (Bernal, Williams and Moodysson). It sounds like Mammoth may be Moodysson's My Blueberry Nights.

Posted by the400blows at February 8, 2009 9:22 AM

comment #2

plastiqueelephant says ...

Not so much hit and miss as he started 3 for 3 (Fucking Amal, Together, Lilya4ever) and then seems the success go to him and he went into a self-sabotaging stage. I was really hoping this was going to be his comeback because he has the potential to become one of the great modern European directors.

Posted by plastiqueelephant at February 8, 2009 9:30 AM

comment #3

MindlessObamaton says ...

Dug TOGETHER too and will check this out if only for Ms. Williams, who was so robbed for WENDY AND LUCY. One of the best actors working today.

Posted by MindlessObamaton at February 8, 2009 10:05 AM

comment #4

arturobandini2 says ...

I'll never forget watching Lilya 4Ever completely alone at a 4:00 matinee in a rundown L.A. arthouse. I wouldn't say Moodysson is overrated, but I personally felt like he was shoving my face into the vomit of human existence for 2 excruciating hours. And just 'cos the kids came back as fucking angels (!!) at the end didn't make up for it, IMO.

Oksana Akinshina, however, is outstanding. She could be Michelle Williams' doppelganger.

Posted by arturobandini2 at February 8, 2009 10:26 AM

comment #5

Gaydos says ...

Maybe this is just an echo, but AMAL was a brilliant first film, TOGETHER a masterpiece, LILYA showed signs of LM disappearing up his own ego where he has essentially stayed. Why oh why can't this brilliant young director find the path back to genius? Or is this movie it? He's got it, that's for sure. But he needs to find where he misplaced it.

Posted by Gaydos at February 8, 2009 11:39 AM

comment #6

JosephB says ...

I can imagine Moodysson quietly standing in the back of the auditorium loving this reaction.

Posted by JosephB at February 8, 2009 6:35 PM

comment #7

BurmaShave says ...

Haha do you actually desire having things spoiled as much as you like spoiling them?

Posted by BurmaShave at February 8, 2009 6:51 PM

comment #8

Sabina E says ...

that makes me sad. I like to think that Gael Garcia Bernal would make wise, careful choices to appear in certain films.

Posted by Sabina E at February 8, 2009 8:01 PM

comment #9

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comment #10