Berlinale’s 2023 Golden Bear was awarded to documentarian Nicolas Philibert (To Be and To Have) for his moving portrait of a floating Parisian day-care centre for people with mental health difficulties.
The Adamant is moored on the Seine in the centre of Paris. An unusual setting for a health centre but perhaps one that suits its distinctive approach. Visitors to the light-filled vessel will find a respectful and compassionate environment, a place to sing or discuss movies, and everyone has a say in the day-to-day activities. This sense of hearing every voice, of seeing people as individuals, has long been an element of Philibert’s work in films such as
In the Land of the Deaf (SFF 1994) and
Every Little Thing (SFF 1997). So too his patient observations, usually over a long period of time, building trust along with remarkable insight.