Golden Bear for 'The Milk of Sorrow'

Berlinale 2009 – European films grabbed ten of the 12 awards (including six out of eight Bears) at the 59th Berlin International Festival, Saturday, Feb 14, 2009. The jury unanimously awarded the Golden Bear for Best Film to Claudia Llosa’s Spanish/Peruvian title The Milk of Sorrow- the first Spanish title in 26 years to win the Golden Bear and the film also picked up the Fipresci Prize.

1,600 invited guests and millions of TV viewers watched the awards ceremony in the Berlinale Palast.

Asghar Farhadi wins Silver Bear for best directionAn Iranian drama,'About Elly' (Darbareye Elly), exploring the lengths to which people go to uphold the country's social conventions, won its director Asghar Farhadi the Best Director award.
     
'The Milk of Sorrow': Synopsis

Fausta is ill with a disease contracted from her mother’s breast milk known as “the milk of sorrow”. However, this is not a sickness caused by bacteria or infection: it is a condition that only affects those women in Peru who were abused or raped during the years of terrorist struggle. Although this horrific period is now history, Fausta is nonetheless a living reminder of this time. Her sickness is called fear – and it has robbed her of her soul. But then, when her mother suddenly dies, Fausta is forced to face her fears.

'About Elly' (Darbareye Elly)

Starring Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahani as Sepideh, centers around a group of middle-class Iranians who drive to the shores of the Caspian Sea for a short break from Tehran.

Mischievous matchmaker Sepideh invites nursery school teacher Elly, hoping that she gets together with divorced friend Ahmad who is back in his native Iran from Germany.

Concerned that Elly's presence in the villa may raise eyebrows, Sepideh tells the old woman letting the property that the couple are newlyweds. It is the start of a long trail of deception that eventually turns a happy holiday into tragedy.

Full list of prize winners:

Golden Bear for Best Film
The Milk of Sorrow by Claudia Llosa

Silver Bear - Grand Jury Prize (ex aequo)
Everyone Else by Maren Ade
Gigante by Adrian Biniez

Silver Bear for Best Director
Asghar Farhadi - About Elly

Silver Bear for Best Actress
Birgit Minichmayr - Everyone Else

Silver Bear for Best Actor
Sotigui Kouyate - London River

Silver Bear for Best Screenplay
Oren Moverman and Alessandro Camon for The Messenger

Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Achievement
Gabor Erdély and Tamas Székely for the soundtrack to Katalin Varga

Alfred Bauer Prize (jointly awarded)
Gigante by Adrián Biniez
Sweet Rush by Andrzej Wajda

Best Debut Film (in all sections)
Gigante by Adrián Biniez
Special Mention: The Girl by Fredrik Edfeldt