Bergfest (2008) Reviews

• Claustrophobic family drama

  fish_city_boy2010-03-05

  Excellent drama - kind of a slacker version of mid-period Bergman ( imagine Autumn Sonata crossed with Laurel Canyon.) Aspiring actor Hannes is taking his girlfriend to the family owned chalet up in the mountains- but is angered to find that his father, who he hasn't spoken to in eight years,and father's insanely young girlfriend are already there. As the foursome bicker, play games, flirt, drink and hike, tensions (sexual, family, romantic) all come to the surface. This is brilliantly acted, particular by Martin Schleiss, and very well written. The plot twists and revelations are not what you'd expect and very moving. The cinematography is excellent, with breathtaking mountain views combined with intensely claustrophobic interior shots. Well worth checking out if it comes up on the festival circuit or deserving of a wider release.

  More

• Unforgettable

  a-liguster2010-08-14

  I saw Bergfest on a film festival in Prague almost one year ago. But I still think about the film from time to time. Maybe that's because of my own relationship to my father, which is not bad but I wonder if he's so different from the father in the film. The four actors are great and so absolutely convincing that I can't imagine they played anything but themselves. The characters are smart and their arrangement discloses some interesting correlations. It made me think about my own 'inner odds' and the question, where they come from and if there's a way to overcome. I can't remember a film that was going so deep, I even think it raises some of the most important questions of our soul or psyche – which are normally dealt with very superficially. I hope very much this film will influence and inspire many film makers to make some more films of such intimate power.

  More