As Hollywood doubles down on sequels, the contenders for the European Film Awards feature bold, political works that are challenging audiences and creating buzz far beyond the continent.
European cinema is having a moment — and not the kind engineered by marketing departments or toy companies.
As much of Hollywood doubles down on sequels, superheroes and slasher movies, the most vital films of the past year have come out of Europe. Not as escapist fantasy adapted from comic books, toys or video games, but as demanding, politically engaged stories aimed squarely at adults. These are films that assume viewers are willing to sit with ambiguity, moral discomfort and unresolved questions. They don't flatter their audiences; they challenge them.
Movies for grown-ups
That sensibility is on full display at this year's European Film Awards (EFA), Europe's top cinema prize, which takes place in Berlin on January 17.
The films competing for the EFA's top honors — from France, Germany, Spain, Scandinavia and beyond — share a seriousness of purpose that feels increasingly rare in mainstream US cinema.
Continue Reading on Deutsche Welle
This preview shows approximately 15% of the article. Read the full story on the publisher's website to support quality journalism.