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Hans-Christian Schmidt - director

Interview - Berlin Film Festival 2003

German director Hans Christian Schmidt presenting his film Lichter at the 53rd Berlin International Film Festival

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by Federico Greco

Interview with German director Hans-Christian Schmidt, for the presentation of his film Lichter (Distant Lights) during the 53rd Berlin International Film Festival in 2003.
Lichter is a film that reflects the situation around the border between Poland and Germany, during the decade prior to the EU enlargement.
The film takes place during a few days around the Oder River, which acts as a border between the two countries. Several different interrelated stories and the fate of many single characters create a picture of life in this region.
As the director says, "the film shows both conditions and the prosperity gap between the people". He also explains that "It is a great advantage to have episodes, because you can give each of them a different ending. In fact in the film not all of the five-six episodes portrayed end badly".
The film was nominated for the Golden Bear and awarded with the FIPRESCI prize, and saw the participation of the 2004 German Shooting Star Maria Simon.

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