(Berlin) – The 63rd Berlin film festival opens with a gala screening of Chinese director Wong Kar Wai’s martial arts epic about the mentor of kung fu superstar Bruce Lee. The film spans several decades of Chinese history to tell the story of legendary martial artist Yip Man, who went on to train Lee, and features dazzling battle scenes between rival fighters.
In addition, With more than 400 films due to screen at the festival, much of the buzz is expected to come from beyond the race for the key prizes. The first major European film festival of the year and traditionally its most politically minded, the Berlinale this year is showcasing pictures about the human impact of the West’s economic crisis, two decades of upheaval in eastern Europe as well as a fresh releases from US independent directors.
