Syrian migrant drama opens Berlin film festival
BERLIN
German director Tom Tykwer said on Feb. 13 that his latest movie about a Syrian immigrant aimed to encourage people to stop "isolating" themselves, as it opened Berlin's international film festival.
"The Light," screening out of competition at the Berlinale, tells the story of a middle-class Berlin family whose lives are upended when they hire a new domestic worker from Syria.
The movie marks a return to feature filmmaking after a long hiatus for Tykwer, 59, who has been focusing on the acclaimed German television series "Babylon Berlin."
In "The Light", the Engels family — Tim, Milena and their teenage twins — are all immersed in their separate worlds as they navigate the complexities of modern life.
But when the enigmatic Farrah, recently arrived from Syria, is placed in their home as the new housekeeper, they find themselves slowly starting to reconnect.
"Everyone is in their own aquarium with their head stuck in it," Tykwer said.
"They are stuck with their heads under water and then some energy comes from the outside and pulls them out and enables them look at each other again."
Tykwer said the film aimed to show that better communication can help people to relate personally but also "politically."
"We have to approach each other again and stop isolating ourselves so much," he said.
The Berlinale, which ranks with Cannes and Venice among Europe's top festivals, serves as a key launchpad for films from around the world.
U.S. writer and director Todd Haynes will head up the jury at this year's edition, with 19 pictures vying for the festival's Golden Bear top prize.
