What is the film "Flies" about?

"Flies" is about a woman whose life is transformed when she rents a room to a man and his young son, leading to an unexpected bond.

Why was "Flies" filmed in black and white?

The black and white aesthetic was chosen to balance melodrama with farce and to seamlessly fuse the real world with the boy's video game reality.

What inspired the setting of the film "Flies"?

Director Fernando Eimbcke was inspired by the large housing blocks in East Berlin, finding a strong similarity to the film's setting.

Home / Arts and Entertainment / Filmmaker's "Flies" Captures Unwanted Presence

Filmmaker's "Flies" Captures Unwanted Presence

14 Feb

•

Summary

A woman's life unravels when renting a room to a stranger and his son.
The film uses black and white to balance melodrama with farce.
Director was inspired by Berlin's housing blocks for the film's setting.

Filmmaker's "Flies" Captures Unwanted Presence

Director Fernando Eimbcke, known for "Duck Season," presents his new film "Flies," an official competition entry at the Berlinale. The movie centers on Olga, whose quiet existence is disrupted when she rents a room to a man and his son. This unforeseen domestic entanglement leads to Olga forming a bond with the boy, significantly altering her world.

Shot in black and white, "Flies" employs this aesthetic to navigate melodrama and touches of farce, a style Eimbcke finds influences from Chaplin. The monochromatic look also seamlessly fuses the real world with the boy's video game reality. The film's narrative draws parallels to universal stories like "Gloria" and "Alice in the Cities," focusing on an adult's transformation through caring for a child.