Berlin Film Festival Bets come quickly as the 2023 Berlinale starts on February 16th. This week-and-a-half-long festival spotlights a whole bunch of films and television too. Bovada online sportsbook added an update right before the jury began to sit down and deliberate. The winner of Best Film gets the coveted “Golden Bear.” Here are a few particulars below.
| 2023 Berlin Film Festival Numbers |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Film Of The Year (Golden Bear) | |||
| Music - Angela Schalanec | +300 | +300 | +310 |
| Totem - Lila Aviles | +500 | +500 | +525 |
| Disco Boy - Giacomo Abbruzze | +600 | +600 | +600 |
| On The Adamant - Nicolas Philibert | +700 | +725 | +700 |
| The Plough - Philippe Garrel | +1200 | +1200 | +1200 |
| Afire - Christian Petzold | +1400 | +1400 | +1400 |
| Art College 1994 - Liu Juan | +1600 | +1600 | +1600 |
| Blackberry - Matt Johnson | +1600 | +1600 | +1600 |
The Berlin Film Festival Bets bid hello to the race when it comes to best film. Granted, the winner gets awarded the prestigious “Golden Bear.” It represents a special honor and truly is chosen among a jury of their peers. That is correct. One of the unique aspects of this film festival is that all the films get watched right then and there. Dates are easily listed on most websites and again, seven people choose the winner.
Here is this year’s list. It spans quite a diverse group and goes around the world.
Now, again unlike the Oscars, there is no huge amount of voters. The jury above votes for the best film. Does the jury president have a little more of sway? Yes. Can he or she throw the voting off the rails? Generally, that answer is no. Again, this is the most prized part of the festival, it is far from the only event over the 11 days. The Berlinale shows a spotlight on so many films and shows – whether on the big or small screen.
For us, the Berlin Film Festival Bets focuses on several of the best films. Who is going to take home that Golden Bear? Will there be a surprise like the Grammy’s, where several shockers floored the crowd? Let us dig into this category quickly.
Yes, Music strikes a chord in Berlin Film Festival Bets. One debates how much of a favorite a film can be compared to another, but this European co-production reigns in as a slight favorite heading into the final days before the Berlinale begins. At +300, it edged Totem and Disco Boy, who is at +500 and +600, respectively. Music brings the tale of Oedipus in a drama-filled yet loosely based way.
Now, the plot sets up quite a redemption arc that figures to snare in the jurists. A boy gets adopted and later involuntarily kills his father. He pays his price, does his time, and falls in love with an officer. The man helps bear a daughter with that love (the lover turns out to be his mother). Years later, he lives in London with his daughter and begins to lose his eyesight. Though he loses one thing, the man gains so much more.
Alas, it is difficult to ignore the classical music loaded into this work. After all, there is something about 17th-century classic music that strikes a chord with the audience. The movie produced partly in Berlin again, spanned into Greece, France, and Serbia. Angela Schalanec directs an intense film that is not for a timid audience. One will be blown out of their seats by a series of intense scenes and some brilliant acting.
Last month this award appeared less likely for Music. However, a late push in Germany and Western Europe seems to have nudged this film along. Okay, even the nudge was dramatic. Aliocha Schneider and Agathe Bonitzer carry this film and keep the viewer riveted for the full 108 minutes. A few scenes drag, and the ending has a patented redemption arc of sorts, but maybe not quite what one is expecting. Music is our Berlin Film Festival Bets favorite.
The Berlin Film Festival Bets get towed err pulled by some of the other contenders. Again, awards for the “Competition” portion do not have that given or likely runaway winner. Fortunately, this is not like other years, but Music carries that edge. Totem offers a coming-of-age message in a much different way as a young child bids adieu to her father in truly a surprising way — a party.
Imagine having a world turned upside down as a seven-year-old. That is what is about to happen to young Sol. The beauty in the film is how the girl learns to let go and yet embrace the breath of life all at the same time.
Sentimentally, this is expected to be the tear-jerker of the group. Lila Aviles brilliantly nails this Mexican-Danish and French co-production while mixing in some levity to what is a thrashing of changing fates. Though Disco Boy and even On The Adamant have their great moments, Totem seems to trump them with more twists and a tidy 95-minute run time.
For the Berlin Film Festival Bets, choosing Totem at +500 is not that much of a surprise.
Berlin Film Festival Bets inevitably have some fliers. There was something about Blackberry (+1600) from Matt Johnson which grabbed audiences. However, unlike The Plough and Afire, Blackberry carried something even despite its well-known rise and meteoric crash. At 122 minutes, it lends itself to at least a second or third watch.
Betting site bonuses help this pick along. Even the two other movies mentioned come in at +1200 and +1400.
Lastly, do not forget some of our Vegas top news and picks for events later this week.
