Golden Bear for Brazilian Cop Flick

'Tropa da Elite' Scoops Top Prize at Berlinale

Brazil's "Tropa da Elite," which depicts the brutal fight against drug gangs in Rio, won the top prize at this year's Berlin International Film Festival. Errol Morris' Abu Ghraib documentary "Standard Operating Procedure" clinched the runner-up award.

Monday in Berlin dawned gray and gloomy. A fitting symbol, perhaps, for the return of the everyday after the 11-day Berlin International Film Festival, which lends a little Hollywood glamour to the German capital every year in bleakest February.

The line-up of stars this year was impeccable, even if their films sometimes disappointed. Among those who made the trip to chilly Berlin were Madonna, whose directorial debut "Filth and Wisdom" received decidedly mixed reviews, as well as Penelope Cruz, Scarlett Johannson and the Rolling Stones, who were the focus of the festival's opening film, Martin Scorsese's "Shine a Light." However, the biggest buzz was probably reserved for Bollywood legend Shahrukh Khan, who was greeted by hundreds of devoted fans.

But there were few big names in evidence among the winners of the festival's prizes, which were awarded in a ceremony on Saturday evening. The Berlinale's top prize, the Golden Bear, went to the Brazilian movie "Tropa da Elite." It is only the second time in the festival's 58-year history that a Latin American film has scooped the top honors.

Jose Padilha's hard-hitting first feature film deals with the fight of elite military police units against drug gangs in Rio's favelas. The movie was a huge hit in Brazil, where its depiction of brutal violence by special police units caused controversy. "(The film) shows how the state turns the police into either corrupt police or police who don't want to do anything, or violent police," Padilha said at the festival.

The Silver Bear for the Jury Grand Prix went to Errol Morris' "Standard Operating Procedure", a hard-hitting documentary about abuses in Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.

One of the favorites for the Golden Bear had been Paul Thomas Anderson's oil-baron drama "There Will Be Blood," which stars Daniel Day-Lewis and has already been nominated for eight Oscars. Although he missed out on the top award, Anderson, who won the Golden Bear in 2000 for "Magnolia," won the Best Director prize. Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood also scooped a Silver Bear for the soundtrack to "There Will Be Blood."

British actor Sally Hawkins won a Silver Bear as Best Actress for her portrayal of a London teacher in Mike Leigh's comedy "Happy-Go-Lucky," while Iran's Reza Naji got the Best Actor prize for his role in Majid Majidi's "The Song of Sparrows."

The Silver Bear for Best Script went to Chinese author and director Wang Xiaoshuai for "Zou You" ("In Love We Trust"). The Alfred Bauer Prize 2008 for a particularly innovative film was awarded to Mexican director Fernando Eimbcke for his quirky teenage drama "Lake Tahoe."

An honorary Golden Bear for lifetime achievement went to the renowned Italian director Francesco Rosi for his contribution to Italian cinema. The 85-year-old director's film "Salvatore Giuliano" won a Silver Bear for Best Director at the Berlinale in 1962.

A total of 21 films were in competition this year. The prizes were chosen by an international jury headed by the Greek-French director Costa Gavras.

Many critics felt this year's festival was the best in several years. "Festival director Dieter Kosslick was spoiled by joy this year," writes SPIEGEL's Lars-Olav Beier. "With the Rolling Stones spectacle as opening, he succeeded in having a splendid start. ... That was the start of a competition which was richer in good films than has been the case for a long time. ... It was a competition full of moving films which often reduced one to tears."

dgs/reuters