AP News, February 8th, 2007
Berlin's annual film festival opened Thursday with a tribute to the turbulent story of diva Edith Piaf _ part of a strong French contingent at this year's event.
Olivier Dahan's "La Vie en Rose" was the first of 22 movies competing for the top Golden Bear award at the first major European film festival of the year.
The movie, titled "La Mome" in France, stars Marion Cotillard as the diminutive, tough Piaf _ born Edith Giovanna Gassion in the working-class Belleville neighborhood of Paris, where she was discovered singing on the streets.
Piaf, whose trademarks were her gutsy delivery and emotional vibrato _ and whose rocky love life attracted almost as much attention as her music _ died in 1963, at 47.
Other competitors at this year's Berlinale, the 57th edition, include Robert De Niro's "The Good Shepherd," Steven Soderbergh's "The Good German" and Gregory Nava's "Bordertown."
Three more French directors have films in the competition: Andre Techine with "Les Temoins (The Witnesses)," Jacques Rivette with "Ne touchez pas la hache (Don't Touch the Axe)" and Francois Ozon, whose English-language "Angel" will close the festival.
While the Berlinale often struggles to compete with its counterparts in Cannes and Venice in terms of glamour, the festival prides itself on being accessible to the public.
"Normal people sit next to film critics and big stars. That's what gives it its special flair," festival director Dieter Kosslick said.
The winner will be chosen Feb. 17 by a seven-member jury led by "Taxi Driver" screenwriter Paul Schrader.
Last year's top prize went to Jasmila Zbanic's "Grbavica," a movie examining how a single mother and her 12-year-old daughter struggle with the aftermath of the Bosnian war.
___
On the Net:
Berlin International Film Festival:
http://www.berlinale.de/en/HomePage.html
