Berlinale 2025 – Part 3

Some more reviews from the 75th Berlin International Film Festival.

This year’s Berlinale was unusually rough in terms of weather, with many attendees catching a cold at some point or another during the festival. I was among them, and my cold was particularly nasty and did a serious number on my throat (my fellow critics can attest to the fact I sounded like present day Harrison Ford without even trying). As a result, all my writing ended up on the back burner, and I’m now catching up with the last few things I had left. This roundup of capsule reviews will cover the remainder of the Official Selection (Competition, Perspectives, Berlinale Special). Unless otherwise stated, all films were viewed in cinemas during the festival.

If I Had Legs I’d Kick You (Competition)

A Sundance import, this intense drama won the award for Best Leading Performance, and Rose Byrne is unmistakably phenomenal as Linda, a woman trying to juggle all her aspects of her life while her husband (Christian Slater) is away on business. Writer/director Mary Bronstein conjures up a subtly nightmarish atmosphere that goes hand in hand with Byrne’s stellar acting, making for a cinematically enriching, emotionally turbulent experience. Special mention to Conan O’Brien, who acquits himself splendidly in a dramatic role as Linda’s therapist.

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