With the Mid-Autumn Festival now in our rear view mirror, it’s time to look ahead to KINO, the German film festival that is hosted each year by the Goethe-Institut. Now in its 25th year, KINO/23 features eight new and award-winning full-length films with the emphasis on female directors. Whether you can name ten films by Wim Wenders or you’re just curious about German cinema, KINO/23 offers movie lovers a great opportunity to dive right in.

IN A LAND THAT NO LONGER EXISTS (In einem Land, das es nicht mehr gibt)

Based on true events and writer-director Aelrun Goette’s personal experiences, IN A LAND THAT NO LONGER EXISTS tells the story of Suzie Schulz (Marlene Burow), a high school senior in 1989 East Berlin who is looking forward to going off to university with dreams of becoming a writer. Those dreams are dashed, however, when the Stasi catch her in possession of a banned book. She is immediately expelled from school and ordered to work a drill press at a nearby metalworking factory. One day, on her way to work, a fashion photographer snaps a photo of her and she gets thrown into the world of high fashion, something that neither she nor her family expected for herself. As glamorous as it is, especially in this drab, socialist paradise, both beauty and freedom have their price and Suzie quickly learns that the State has ways to make everyone, even cover girls, conform to its will.

While it’s true that the DDR (East Germany) is a land that no longer exists, barely 30 years after its demise, the world seems to be forgetting what happens when you embrace fascism, fascist strongmen and wannabe dictators. Goette’s story is a reminder that in such a land, nothing is private, nothing is apolitical, and being proudly gay (as one character is) or even reading a banned book carries big consequences. Goette knows this life all too well, as she, like Suzie, was a teen model shortly before the Berlin Wall came down. Drawing on her own experiences, Goette grounds her story in authenticity, never resorting to clichés or hyperbole to get her point across. IN A LAND THAT NO LONGER EXISTS is unassuming but its message is powerful.

IN A LAND THAT NO LONGER EXISTS is the festival’s opening night film and Aelrun Goette will be in attendance. It is a thought-provoking film and a great choice to kick off the festival with. Definitely check it out!

KINO/23 will run from October 12 to 22, 2023. Opening night will again take place at the Louis Koo Cinema at the HK Arts Centre in Wanchai while some of the other films will be screened at the Broadway Cinematheque, Premiere Elements and the Hong Kong Film Archive. For more information about KINO/23 and the full programme, visit their website at https://www.goethe.de/ins/hon/en/kul/fil/k23.html. Tickets are on sale right now with prices ranging from $70 to $95. Student discounts are also available. Don’t wait too long to get yours because the screenings always sell out.

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