A frame from the movie_Fiery Sky_
German director Christian Pecold makes films that are highly appreciated by both critics and audiences. Finding that golden mean is extremely difficult, but his latest film, “Sky of Fire” is as light, playful and even comical as the previous ones. What is the lightness and beauty of this film? It is a utopia film that expresses a nostalgic desire to return to direct contact and feel another person again. “The Flaming Sky” won the Grand Jury Prize at the Berlin Film Festival, was recognized as the best film at the San Sebastian Film Festival, and actor Thomas Schubert was nominated for the European Film Academy Award. The film will be shown in Latvian cinemas from January 5. “The Blazing Sky” presents “The Bear, the Lion and the Branch”.
The stormy and sensual film “The Flaming Sky” is not at all similar to German cinematographic works, where everything, even the looks of the characters, is usually thought out to the smallest detail. Pecold’s characters are young people, they are no stranger to impulsiveness, spontaneous love, freedom and thirst for life. While ill with covid, the director promised himself: if he recovers, he will shoot a light-hearted film about the new generation. According to Pecold, the Americans, the French and even the Swedes have a summer movie genre and its best examples have already entered the history of cinema. There are no parents, no school, no factory in summer movies. Summer is a break during which something important can happen, a turning point in the hero’s life: the hope of the first love, the first kiss and the possibility of the first mistake. Summer is more of a state than a season.
Christian Pecold claims that the summer freedom of the German people was taken away and destroyed in 1933 and today summer films are no longer made. Therefore, the director revives the lost genre with an excellent quartet of actors, which with its lightness, youthful illusions, love and warmth makes even the biggest grump and pessimist living in a self-created bubble smile. Leo, a snobbish young writer, lives in his own bubble these days. Summer and its joys seem like real misery to him. He thinks only about himself and his “work” – the manuscript of the second novel. Leo is so self-absorbed that he is annoyed by everything, from the sand of the sea to the free and spontaneous behavior of his new friends. Not to mention the fire that spreads in the surrounding forests – it’s not a disaster for Leon, the biggest problem is his own everyday little things. The world exists only under Leo’s nose.
Christian Pecold, from the point of view of an experienced person, with great tenderness and sensitivity laughs at the complacency of the young man and delicately observes the moment when the main character will understand that reality tends to be more original than imagination. According to the director, status in our society is determined by work, most of our lives we focus on everyday details, often giving great importance to trifles, and we experience failures almost or hysterically. A negative rating becomes almost a disaster, and only when faced with real misfortune do we understand what is truly important.
“Our world in all its complexity is fantastic, and we have to fight for it as it is,” says Pecold. It’s okay that it’s not summer right now. The film is intended for all those who have promised themselves this year not only to change their bubble, but also to make others a little happier. Maybe sometimes you just need to relax a bit?
Christian Pecold’s latest film in theaters from January 5.
Promotional footage of the movie “Flaming Sky” in Latvian:
Elsa Eliza Ilyešane
2024-01-03 11:15:22
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