Berlin Film Festival: Day 7

Madonna turns the Berlinale crowd upside down

Even the most gentle-natured journalists left good manners aside and got their elbows out as they literally fought their way into the screening room to watch the new UK independent comedy Filth and Wisdom. The reason for all this hysteria is of course Madonna, and this despite the fact that most of the journalists in the room had already agreed that the film probably contained more filth than wisdom. After all, it is the first time that Ms. Ciccone has sat in the director's chair.

Madonna hasn't had a great track record of late, her leading role in the appallingly bad Swept Away, is one example… So, the curiosity was boundless - and big surprise: the film was well received by most of the press. Even if some critics find shortcomings to the plot and they mock the pseudo-philosophical dialogue.

The film centres on a group of bizarre individuals, who share a flat in London. Ukrainian musician and actor Eugene Hutz leads the way, dreaming his band getting their 'big break'. But until the time is ripe for that, he has to earn his money by some various dubious means, from being a male dominatrix, to a stern teacher or a transvestite. His flat mate Holly is by no means better off: she aims to be a dancer, but the next strip club is as far as she can get.

The whole story is woven with a hilarious, self-ironical thread - at the press conference in the afternoon (same scenario as in the morning: long queues, disappointed faces and general hysteria), Madonna started telling the story of her own early start: her teenage years in the American province. A long time has passed since then, not only has she had an incredible career as a world-famous pop-star, but she also proved to be a skilled business woman building up an impressive career. "I used my own songs and the songs of my friends in the movie, because I do not have to pay for those", she revealed before leading man Hutz got out his guitar. .. It seems there's no stopping Madonna from continuing to express herself in her later years.