(Lana Rockwell, Jabari Watkins, © Lasse Tolbøll)
by Lindsay R. Bellinger
New York indie filmmaking auteur Alexandre Rockwell returns to the 70th year of Berlinale with his new film Sweet Thing. His newest film is making its world premiere in the Generation Section of the film festival tomorrow at Urania, An der Urania 17, 10787 Berlin at 17:00. Sweet Thing is a wonderfully entertaining black & white film that centers on Billie and Nico, real life sister and brother Lana and Nico Rockwell, who escape their difficult home life and go on a journey with new friend Malik (newcomer Jabari Watkins). The very talented Karyn Parsons actress, writer and mother to Lana and Nico also stars as their mother in the film. For those familiar with the hit US television series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (also starring Will Smith) will likely recognize Parsons. Will Patton fills out the cast in a very strong performance as the father.
Rockwell's premiered his feature debut film Lenz at Berlinale in 1982, a mere 38 years ago. Lenz made its premiere in the Forum Expanded section of the festival whereas Sweet Thing runs in the Generation Kplus Section. Honestly speaking, every year the Generation Films rarely have any duds whereas other sections of the festival definitely have some films that make many film journalists ask themselves, "Why?"
His film In The Soup featuring Seymour Cassel, Steve Buscemi, & Jennifer Beals won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival in 1992 and if one remembers correctly, yes, that is the year that Quentin Tarantino's debut film Reservoir Dogs was also at Sundance.
(Lana Rockwell, © Mélanie Akoka)
Here's a message from Alexandre Rockwell, inviting you to the world premiere tomorrow! Luckily, the new ticket policy of the Berlinale changes the price of the Generation films so they are just 5€ for everyone. Get on it and scoop up a ticket for the world premiere tomorrow (Tuesday, February 25) at 17:00 at Urania Kino! You don't want to miss this chance. Click here to reserve your tickets.
In case you can not make the premiere tomorrow at Urania you're in luck because you have three additional chances to catch the film at one of the lovely cinemas in Berlin. Here are all of the screening times:
Tuesday, Feb 25 17:00 (5pm) @ Urania Kino, (sign language), Ticket code 250633
Wednesday, Feb 26 14:00 (2pm) @ Cubix 8, Ticket code 260883
Thursday, Feb 27 09:30 @ Zoo Palast 1, Ticket code 270301 (ONE OF MY FAVORITE CINEMAS IN THE CITY!)
Friday, Feb 28 13:00 (1pm) @ Zoo Palast 2 Ticket code 281552