The Milk of Sorrow' wins at Berlin festival

BERLIN – Director Claudia Llosa's "The Milk of Sorrow," a movie that addresses the fears of women abused during Peru's turbulent recent history, won the Berlin film festival's top Golden Bear award.

The movie stars Magaly Solier as Fausta, a young woman suffering from a mysterious illness that is said to be transferred through the milk of mothers who were raped or physically abused during Peruvian authorities' long war against leftist guerrillas.

The Spanish-Peruvian co-production is Llosa's second feature film.

"This is beautiful ... this is such an honor," Llosa said after receiving the award Saturday night. "This is for Peru. This is for our country."

"We need this kind of prize," she said at a later news conference. "It is important to us that people get to know our films."

The festival's jury grand prize, which comes with a runner-up Silver Bear, was shared Saturday by two films.

Argentine director Adrian Biniez' debut feature "Gigante" tells the story of a supermarket security guard who falls in love with a cleaner, while German director Maren Ade's "Everyone Else" follows a couple during a difficult vacation.

Iran's Asghar Farhadi was chosen as best director for "About Elly," which looks at thirtysomething Iranians' attitudes to life.

Sotigui Kouyate was named best actor for his part in director Rachid Bouchareb's "London River." He plays a French Muslim desperately awaiting news of his son after the 2005 terrorist attacks in London.

Birgit Minichmayr won the best actress honor for her role as half of the awkward couple in "Everyone Else."

The best script award went to Oren Moverman and Alessandro Camon for "The Messenger," in which Woody Harrelson and Ben Foster star as U.S. Army officers responsible for informing families about the deaths of soldiers. Moverman also directed the film.

The award for an outstanding artistic contribution went to Gabor Erdely and Tamas Szekely for what the jury called the "sound design" of "Katalin Varga," from British director Peter Strickland.

Two movies shared the festival's honor for innovative film making: Biniez' "Gigante" and "Sweet Rush," the latest film from Polish veteran Andrzej Wajda.

The winners were chosen from a field of 18 movies by a seven-member international jury under British actress Tilda Swinton.

"The Milk of Sorrow" is the second consecutive Latin American winner in Berlin. Last year's Golden Bear went to Brazilian director Jose Padilha's "The Elite Squad."

Source : http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090214/ap_en_ot/eu_berlin_film_festival