Nice surprise for a man who has turned cinema into a surprise machine: Steven Spielberg received the Honorary Golden Bear for his cinematic lifetime achievement from U2 singer Bono during the Berlinale on Tuesday (February 21) in Berlin.
In his brief but thought-provoking speech, Bono praised Spielberg’s 1974 film debut Sugarland Express, which made a strong impression on him as a child.
Bono: “Tonight you are awarding the Golden Bear to Steven Spielberg for all the right reasons. But his life’s work is not just his work. It’s his real life, his real family.”
The musician, who has a special relationship with Berlin due to the recording of “Achtung Baby” in the Hansa Studios in the capital, originally came to the premiere of the documentary “Kiss The Future” about the siege of Sarajevo, which also includes the artistic-humanitarian Describes the use of the Irish band for the war region. His commitment during this glamorous tribute to Spielberg was kept secret until the very end.
Steven Spielberg is aimed at all Germans
The director, who has won several Oscars and who is also back in the running for the coveted gold statues with his latest, autobiographical film “The Fablemans”, was delighted with the award at the International Film Festival and also emphasized how important it was that a Jewish filmmaker like him received such an honorary award.
Spielberg: “The award has a special meaning for me because I am a Jewish director. I like to think that this is one small moment and a much larger, ongoing effort to heal the broken places in the story. The Jews call fixing and restoring the world Tikkun Olam.”
“The German people have shown themselves ready to understand their country’s history and to grapple with the lessons of anti-Semitism, bigotry and xenophobia that foreshadowed the Holocaust,” he continued. “Other countries, including my own, can learn much from the courageous determination of the German people to act to prevent fascists from seizing power.”
The fact that the tireless and still youthful-looking Spielberg at the age of 76 was being honored with a lifetime achievement award made him both melancholy and combative at the same time. “I’m a little concerned when I’m told I’ve lived my whole life, because I’m not finished and I want to keep working. I want to keep learning and discovering and scaring myself and sometimes you too,” said the director upon accepting the award.
Selected films by Steven Spielberg can be seen in Berlin cinemas as part of an extensive Berlinale homage until February 26th.
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