Nicolas Philibert in “Sur l’Adamant” Photo: Berlinale
By Sebastian Bauer
Residents of a clinic for mental illness inspire with wit and unexpected talents.
THE STORY: The documentary accompanies the patients and carers of the Adament, an innovative day clinic in a floating building on the Seine, in the heart of Paris. The residents show their amazing talents as painters, musicians or storytellers.
THE DIRECTOR: The French filmmaker Nicolas Philibert (“Nénette”) has already shown his works in Cannes and the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
BG RATING: The consistently likeable protagonists carry the film with warmth and an unconventional view of life. From a purely artistic point of view, however, the documentary is hardly more demanding than a standard television film.
BEAR CHANCE: Documentary protagonists are not allowed to receive an actor award. So rather not.
EVENTS: 25.2. 10 a.m. Cubix, 10 p.m. Intern., 26.2. 2.30 p.m. HdBF