Barberini Summer Cinema

On three August evenings, the courtyard of the Museum Barberini will be transformed into an open-air cinema. The programme features French film classics that capture the magic of summer – stories of longing and lightness, of sunshine, love, and a distinctly Mediterranean sense of joie de vivre. The selection includes Jacques Tati’s delightfully comic Monsieur Hulot’s Holiday (1953), Jean-Luc Godard’s visually striking Contempt (1963), and The Swimming Pool (1969), starring Romy Schneider and Alain Delon in one of the most sensual thrillers of French cinema.

All films will be shown in the original version with German subtitles.

Each evening begins with a talk featuring guests from film criticism, film studies, and the film industry. Among the participants are Knut Elstermann (rbb radioeins), Gesa Ufer (rbb, Deutschlandfunk Kultur), Lisa Nawrocki (UNESCO Creative City of Film Potsdam), Michael Fürst (Filmmuseum Potsdam), and film director Volker Schlöndorff. Afterwards, it’s time to sit back and enjoy the film – on deck chairs with popcorn from the Yorck Cinemas. Even before the talks, DJ sets set the mood for a perfect summer evening.

In cooperation with the Yorck Cinema Group

Price:
€15 / €12 (reduced)

Notes:
The admission to the museum from 5:30 p.m. is included in the ticket price. In the event of rain, the summer cinema screening will take place in the auditorium.

Thursday, 6 August
From 7 pm music in the courtyard · 8 pm talk · 8:45 pm film screening

Monsieur Hulot’s Holiday (1953, directed by Jacques Tati, OV with German subtitles)
With charm, wit, and a keen eye for the absurdities of everyday life, Monsieur Hulot causes delightful chaos at a French seaside resort. A timeless comedy about holidays, slowing down, and the small complications of summer happiness.

Before the screening, Michael Fürst (Filmmuseum Potsdam) and Lisa Nawrocki (UNESCO Creative City of Film Potsdam) will join moderator Gesa Ufer (rbb, Deutschlandfunk Kultur) to discuss Potsdam as a film city – its history, its present, and its future as an important centre for film and media.

Thursday, 13 August
From 7 pm music in the courtyard · 7:45 pm talk · 8:30 pm film screening

Contempt (1963, directed by Jean-Luc Godard, OV with German subtitles)
Against the spectacular backdrop of Capri, Godard’s masterpiece tells the story of a relationship in crisis. Brigitte Bardot and Michel Piccoli play the couple, while Fritz Lang appears as himself, directing a film within the film. Between the Mediterranean, a film set, and modernist architecture, an elegant drama unfolds about love, art, and misunderstanding.

To open the event, moderator Knut Elstermann (rbb radioeins) and director Volker Schlöndorff will discuss the French New Wave and its lasting influence on European cinema.

Thursday, 20 August
From 7 pm music in the courtyard · 7:30 pm talk · 8:15 pm film screening

The Swimming Pool (1969, directed by Jacques Deray, OV with German subtitles)
Summer heat, the French Riviera, and a reunion with consequences: Jacques Deray’s stylish thriller brings together Romy Schneider, Alain Delon, Maurice Ronet, and Jane Birkin in a captivating game of desire, jealousy, and underlying tension.

Before the screening, moderator Knut Elstermann (rbb radioeins) and filmmaker Andreas Dresen will discuss the enduring appeal of Swimming Pool and French cinema.