About this episode
After winning the Silver Bear for Best screenplay in in 2023 with her feature film “Music”, Angela Schanelec returns to the Berlinale competition, at the 76th edition, with her new film “My Wife Cries”.
The film stars actor- director Vladimir Vulevi? and actress Agathe Bonitzer as a couple in crisis trying to survive betrayal and lack of communication.
Entering Angela Schanelec’s world
Some critics defined german director Angela Schanelec’s films as “strange trips”. Her actors, especially Agathe Bonitzer who already worked with her in Music (2023) confirms that the director has her own way of directing, being very precise in her scripts but not really explaining every step of the film’s process.
Vladimir Vulevi?, who’s also a director in Serbia, reveals that, according to Serbian cinema’s rules, the actors have to totally trust their directors and follow their directions. It’s not up to the actors to five their own interpretation of a story or the character they’re playing as they were conceived by the director.
A plan
About her protagonists in the film, Angela Schanelec writes: “After their love has been called into question by what has happened, Thomas and Carla no longer have a plan, no idea what they should do, how their lives are to continue. But life does go on. Things happen, friends appear, dreams come to light”.
Vladimir Vulevi? and actress Agathe Bonitzer comment on this sentence confirming that the film delves into complex themes of communication, loneliness, and human connection, offering a compelling narrative that resonates deeply with audiences.
“My Wife Cries” captures a poignant story that revolves around the silent struggles and emotional crises faced by its characters. The film explores how not just words but the absence of communication influences relationships.
One of the central themes in “My Wife Cries” is the complex relationship between communication and silence. The characters’ inability to fully express their emotions creates an underlying tension that drives the narrative. Vladimir Vulevi? reflects on how the film examines not only the lack of communication but also moments when communication succeeds despite barriers like language and emotional distance. It’s a story about shared loneliness
