Berlin

Richard Gere, in good form at Press conference for "The (dismal) Dinner" -- not his fault -- he was very good in his part of the picture.

By Alex Deleon

Richard Gere, looking good with a full head of wavy white hair at 66 was the Only major Hollywood star at the Berlinale opening gala last night, and attended the press conference for his latest film, "The Dinner", co-starring Laura Linney, Steve Coogan and Rebecca Hall. The film itself is a two hour long torture session about Family dissent over a heinous crime -- the burning alive of a sleeping homeless person -- committed by the children of two brothers played by Gere and Coogan. The question in debate over a luxurious dinner, whether or not to cover up the crime of the kiddies in the name of family solidarity, and justice be damned. There were streams of walkouts from the morning press sceening as even hardened journalists had had more than enough by the halfway mark of this orgy of bad feelings and screaming marital condemnations. Gere was the only good person in the story playing a high level politician with a conscience who is determined to bring out the truth despite the fact that his own son was one if the perpetrators.

Nota Bene:

The day started with a screening of another competition film, the Hungarian entry  "Testről és Lélekről" (Body and Soul) by veteran femme director Ildikó Enyedi (61) who came to prominence back in 1999 with the international Hungarian hit "My Twentieth Century".

This is a touching romance drama set of all places in a meat packing slaughterhouse where a young attractive blonde works in quality control and falls in love with her older boss who seems to have many of the same dreams at night as she does. Alexandra Borbély is the attractive blonde heroine and Morcsányi Géza her not so attractive older lover. 

Described as "an unusual love story based around the duality of sleeping and waking, mind and matter". Camera work by Herbai Maté with some beautiful forest scenes interspersed in highly commendable. 

Not likely to win any bears but a good love story with a different set of twists to engage attention. Ms. Enyedi spoke fluent English at the Press conference, as did Actor Morcsányi, but actress Borbély answered questions in Hungarian through an interpreter.

Hungarian director Ildikó Enyedi looks pleased at press conference for Competition film  Body and Soul.

BIOGRAPHY

Ildikó Enyedi

Born in Budapest, Hungary in 1955, she began her career as a concept and media artist before turning to short and feature films as a writer and director. She has received more than 40 international awards for her work. Her film My 20th Century was chosen as one of the best 12 Hungarian films of all time. In 1992 she was a member of the Berlinale’s International Jury. She teaches masterclasses in film at the University of Theatre and Film Arts, Budapest. She is a founding member of the European Cross Media Academy and a member of the European Film Academy.

Filmography

1981 Flirt; short film 1983 The Viewer; short film 1986 Invasion1987 The Mole 1988 Will-o’-the-wisp 1989 My 20th Century1991 Winter War 1995 Magic Hunter 1997 Tamás and Juli 1999Simon Magus 2000 Geschichten in Gesichtern 2004 EUROPA2008 First Love 2013 TERÁPIA 1 + 2 + 3; TV series, 2012–2016 2017 Testről és lélekről