Had the privilege of viewing 7 little gems screened at this year's BERLINALE, courtesy of the PR Factory.
Capsule Reviews of the 7 films:
CHIMNEY TOWN: FROZEN IN TIME (Japan 2026) ***
Directed by Yusuke Hirota
After losing his friend Poupelle, young Lucchini wanders into a mysterious realm where a clock in a tower is frozen at 11:59. To return home, he must restart it – and find the courage to believe again. Based on the 2020 film POUPELLE OF CHIMNEY TOWN, CHIMNEY TOWN: FROZEN IN TIME follows a similar story in which Lucchini searches for his friend Poupelle as he is transported to a place where time stands still, at least for the huge clock in the clocktower between one to midnight and midnight There is also the twin story of the clock keeper who lost Nagi, his girl and cannot accept the fate. These are two stories in different times, which pose a problem in the narrative storytelling, despite some really outstanding animation. The film that boasts Japanese folklore and animation from Studio 4C reminds one of the Studio Ghibli animated films. The animated feature is a blend of drama, whimsical fantasy and cuteness.
I UNDERSTAND YOUR DISPLEASURE (Ich verstehe Ihren Unmut)(Germany 2026) ****
Directed by Kilian Armando Friedrich
Heike, a customer service manager at an understaffed cleaning company, must secure more working hours and revenue for a subcontractor after she is caught trying to poach an employee from his company. As the film follows the main character, Heike, as she goes about her troublesome and busy job, one is immediately reminded of the films of the Dardenne Brothers. Heike, who has the job of customer service but also supervises all the cleaning after she tells her boss: I Understand Your Displeasure”, is required to satisfy interests that systematically contradict one another: low prices, maximum efficiency, and humane and working conditions of a cleaning service. Is there any satisfaction at all for Heike in the cleaning industry, and for her to search for a moment of happiness instead of saying f*** it all? The film also moves into Ken Loachch territory as director Friedrick tackles social issues. The film is inGerman and Bosnian as many cleaning workers come from Bosnia. Director Kilian Armando Friedrich shows great talent with his debut feature, with emotions felt for his characters in a situation that seems to lead to a dead end.
NARCISO (Paraguay/Brazil/Portugal/Germany/Spain/France/Uruguay2025) ***½
Directed by Marcelo Martinessi.
Impressive and ambitious Paraguayan movie set in 1958, follows the sad tale of a Paraguayan rock star, known as Narciso, who is found dead at the height of his career. Rock and rollin the U.S., with the likes of Elvis Presley, Bill Haley and the Comets, Little Richard, and Chuck Berry, is only eclipsed in Paraguay by their folk music. Narciso is a charismatic young man who returns to Asunción from Buenos Aires, bringing rock ’n’ roll — a new and liberating musical rhythm — to his home city.
He becomes a radio personality and local sensation, captivating audiences with his music, energy, and sensual presence, and emerging as a symbol of freedom and desire in an oppressive political context. The radio station opens its program to rock and roll, with immense popularity with the young, but leads to disaster with local politics, clamping down on gay practices of which the rock star (bisexual), Narciso, is involved. NARCISO is a convincing period piece aided by solid performances all around.
PAPAYA (Brazil 2025) ***
Directed by Priscilla Kellen
The animated film follows a tiny papaya seed (a papaya seed is small, circular, and totally black but soft as shown in the animation) living in the Amazon rainforest who dreams of flying. Determined not to take root and become a tree, the seed keeps moving across the jungle in pursuit of freedom. During its journey, the seed gradually discovers the surprising strength and importance of its roots. This realisation sparks a transformation that changes its world and ultimately allows it to fulfil its dream suddenly. Because it is non-dialogue, it takes more concentration to follow the story. The film is aimed at the younger crowd, but if they can appreciate the animation seen, if the environmental message may be above them.
A RUSSIAN WINTER (UN HIVER DE RUSSE) (France 2026) ***
Directed by Patric Chiha
The film follows several friends focusing on Margarita and Yuri, who refuse to support the Russian regime and therefore face a stark choice: prison, military service, or leaving their country. They choose exile and try to rebuild their lives abroad. When the film opens, it is just after the Russian winter in March of 2022, and the war between Russia and Ukraine had begun. The film shows how silly and devastating the war is, with the kids not understanding what is going on. Yuri’s father brands him a coward for going into exile, tand he father was later killed when he enlisted in the war. It is a quiet and slow-moving doc that might not appeal to many despite its sincerity and current importance. The film is an intimate, character-driven documentary about a generation of Russians living in limbo after choosing exile over compliance.
EL TREN FLUVIAL (The River Train)(Argentina 2025) ***
Directed by Lorenzo Ferro and Lucas A. Vignale
A simply made yet very effective parable of a 9-year-old village boy who travels via THE RIVER TRAIN to the capital of Buenos Aires to achieve his dreams. Nine-year-old Milo is growing up with the pressure to become a great Malambo dancer and the “perfect” son. He dreams of taking control of his life and escaping his responsibilities of washing dishes, cooking and practising the Malambo at night. Milo wants another life. He fantasises about travelling by train and exploring the city of Buenos Aires, which he has seen so many times in the movies and on television. However, in order to break free from his family and the countryside, and make his big dreams come true, he must dare to take a new journey: a journey into solitude, and the unknown adventures and pleasures of the big city. The beginning scenes of Milo dancing the Malambo, done in one single take is nothing short of astounding. But his father pressures Nino, and he lives unhappily in the family home. This is an odd little movie about a boy, still too young to figure out his life, who decides to take charge anyway. This is the beauty of the premise as the audio ones see Milo undertake the trip of his lifetime.
YELLOW LETTERS (GELBE BRIEFE) (Germany/Turkey/France 2025) ***½
Directed by İlker Çatak
Directed by İlker Çatak, who co-wrote the screenplay with Ayda Çatak and Enis Köstepen. It follows Derya (Özgü Namal) and Aziz (Tansu Biçer), a couple of Turkish theatre artists who lose their jobs due to political persecution in Turkey. When someone loses their job, they receive YELLOW LETTERS. The political unrest is due to the government clamping down on democracy, which is happening in Turkey, known to be the country that persecutes journalists. The story, however,r focuses on the marriage of an artist couple that begins to unravel after a state arbitration at their play's premiere. The film demonstrates how familial tension arises from outside forces and how much it takes to keep a relationship together. Director Çatak keeps his film tense and interesting with nary a dull moment, with a credible, satisfactory ending that should not disappoint.
