Lana's memories started 20 years ago, when her father left her alone in the zoo. She was raised by a giraffe trainer and lived at the zoo, enjoying: the sound of the Hippo’s steps, the flapping of the elephant’s ears, and the strange, flute-like sound of the giraffe. Lana grew up full of joy. Over time, she forgets her father.
One day, a cowboy comes to the zoo. Lana falls for him. Soon, she becomes his assistant in performing magic. The town loves them and they host their own TV show. One day, Cowboy sets a fire performance. As the fire is gone, he has also disappeared. The boss, who picked them from the street, sells Lana to Planet Spa. Lana no longer knows happiness. She has only the feeling of longing for Cowboy and the zoo. Lana now works as a masseuse "with benefits". Her customers love her stories of the zoo. The Albino bodyguard falls for Lana. He burns the Planet Spa to protect her. Lana returns to the zoo. But she founds no one there. She is left alone in the zoo. Again.
Statement
For me, Giraffes are the most elegant creatures in the animal kingdom. I’ve always wanted to touch the belly of a giraffe. When I was little I used to think: "oh maybe someday when I’m tall enough". But even now, let alone to touch her, she won’t even let me come near. 3 meters is the closest. That’s the only personal experience I have about the zoo.
If the zoo were a feeling, it would represent the feeling of longing. Feelings of being alone with memories, in between reality and dream. A sense of longing comes as we recall a memory. When absence becomes important. When the memory suddenly vanishes, longing haunts us deeper.
In this story I would like to portray this sense of longing. "Postcards From The Zoo" is a collection of feelings of longing.
Lana's memories started 20 years ago, when her father left her alone in the zoo. She was raised by a giraffe trainer and lived at the zoo, enjoying: the sound of the Hippo’s steps, the flapping of the elephant’s ears, and the strange, flute-like sound of the giraffe. Lana grew up full of joy. Over time, she forgets her father.
One day, a cowboy comes to the zoo. Lana falls for him. Soon, she becomes his assistant in performing magic. The town loves them and they host their own TV show. One day, Cowboy sets a fire performance. As the fire is gone, he has also disappeared. The boss, who picked them from the street, sells Lana to Planet Spa. Lana no longer knows happiness. She has only the feeling of longing for Cowboy and the zoo. Lana now works as a masseuse "with benefits". Her customers love her stories of the zoo. The Albino bodyguard falls for Lana. He burns the Planet Spa to protect her. Lana returns to the zoo. But she founds no one there. She is left alone in the zoo. Again.
Statement
For me, Giraffes are the most elegant creatures in the animal kingdom. I’ve always wanted to touch the belly of a giraffe. When I was little I used to think: "oh maybe someday when I’m tall enough". But even now, let alone to touch her, she won’t even let me come near. 3 meters is the closest. That’s the only personal experience I have about the zoo.
If the zoo were a feeling, it would represent the feeling of longing. Feelings of being alone with memories, in between reality and dream. A sense of longing comes as we recall a memory. When absence becomes important. When the memory suddenly vanishes, longing haunts us deeper.
In this story I would like to portray this sense of longing. "Postcards From The Zoo" is a collection of feelings of longing.
Competition
Jan 20, 2012:
18 World Premieres in the Competition
With seven more films, the Competition programme of the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival is nearing completion. To date it includes 22 films, of which 17 are vying for the Golden and Silver Bears. 18 films will celebrate their world premieres in the Competition of the Berlinale 2012.
The productions in the Competition are from the following countries: Brazil, Canada, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Germany, the People’s Republic of China, France, Greece, Great Britain, Hong Kong/China, Hungary, Indonesia, Italy, Ireland, Norway, the Philippines, Portugal, the Russian Federation, Sweden, Switzerland, Senegal, Spain, and the USA.
A special screening of Steven Soderbergh’s action thriller Haywire in the Berlinale Palast will supplement the programme.
Like last year, the winner of the Golden Bear will be screened after the award ceremony on February 18.
“We are very pleased that a large number of this year's Competition films are screening in Berlin as world premieres. Many entries in the Competition 2012 revolve around radical changes and departures. They shift perspectives, presenting history and stories from the point of view of those involved,” says Festival Director Dieter Kosslick.
Further films in the Competition programme:
À moi seule (Coming Home)
France
By Frédéric Videau (Le fils de Jean-Claude Videau, Variéte Francaise)
With Agathe Bonitzer, Reda Kateb
World premiere
Bel Ami
Great Britain
By Declan Donnellan, Nick Ormerod (feature debut)
With Robert Pattinson, Uma Thurman, Kristin Scott Thomas, Christina Ricci
World premiere / out of competition
En kongelig affære (A Royal Affair)
Denmark/Czech Republic/Germany/Sweden
By Nikolaj Arcel (Islands of Lost Souls, Sandheden om mænd, Königspatience – Intrige im Parlament)
With Mads Mikkelsen, Alicia Vikander, Trine Dyrholm, David Dencik, Mikkel Boe Følsgaard
World premiere
Flying Swords Of Dragon Gate
Hong Kong, China
By Hark Tsui (Once Upon A Time In China, Detective Dee And The Mystery Of The Phantom Flame, Time And Tide)
With Jet Li, Zhou Xun, Chen Kun, Kwai Lun Mei
European premiere / out of competition – 3D
Rebelle
Canada
By Kim Nguyen (La citė, Truffe, Le Marais)
With ****** Mwanza, Alain Bastien, Serge Kanyinda
World premiere
Shadow Dancer
Great Britain/Ireland
By James Marsh (Project Nim, The King, Man On Wire)
With Clive Owen, Andrea Riseborough, Gillian Anderson
European premiere / out of competition
Special screening in the Berlinale Palast:
Haywire
USA
By Steven Soderbergh (Sex, Lies and Videotape, Traffic, Erin Brockovich)
With Gina Carano, Ewan McGregor, Michael Fassbender, Channing Tatum
German premiere
Films already announced:
Aujourd´hui by Alain Gomis, France/Senegal - WP
Barbara by Christian Petzold, Germany - WP
Captive by Brillante Mendoza, France/Philippines/Germany/Great Britain - WP
Cesare deve morire (Caesar Must Die) by Paolo and Vittorio Taviani, Italy - WP
Csak a szél (Just The Wind) by Bence Fliegauf, Hungary/Germany/ France - WP
Dictado (Childish Games) by Antonio Chavarrías, Spain - WP
Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close by Stephen Daldry, USA – IP (out of competition)
Gnade (Mercy) by Matthias Glasner, Germany/Norway - WP
Jayne Mansfield’s Car by Billy Bob Thornton, Russian Federation/USA - WP
Jin líng Shí San Chai (The Flowers Of War) by Zhang Yimou, People’s Republic of China – EP (out of competition) Kebun binatang (Postcards From The Zoo) by Edwin, Indonesia/Germany/Hong Kong, China - WP
L´enfant d’en haut (Sister) by Ursula Meier, Switzerland/France - WP
Les Adieux à la reine by Benoît Jacquot, France/Spain - WP
Metéora (Meteora) by Spiros Stathoulopoulos, Germany/Greece - WP
Tabu by Miguel Gomes, Portugal/Germany/Brazil/ France - WP
Was bleibt (Home For The Weekend) by Hans-Christian Schmid, Germany - WP