Trailer and Exclusive Poster for Gabe Klinger’s Berlin Debut Isabel Uncork a Midlife Crisis
•February 10, 2026
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Why It Matters
The Berlinale slot gives *Isabel* high‑profile exposure, positioning Brazilian‑driven storytelling on a global stage and signaling a resurgence of mid‑budget, 16mm cinema in festivals.
Key Takeaways
- •Isabel premieres at Berlinale on Feb 16, 2026.
- •Film follows São Paulo sommelière seeking own wine bar.
- •Shot on 16mm, echoing Klinger’s previous style.
- •Poster designed by visual artist Filipe Lampejo.
- •Midlife‑crisis narrative offers fresh cultural perspective.
Pulse Analysis
Gabe Klinger’s *Isabel* arrives at the Berlinale at a moment when festivals are hunting for distinctive voices that blend personal storytelling with regional specificity. By setting a midlife‑crisis narrative in São Paulo’s high‑end wine scene, the film taps into universal themes of ambition and self‑reinvention while showcasing Brazil’s vibrant culinary culture. This juxtaposition of personal turmoil and a city known for its eclectic nightlife offers audiences a fresh lens on a familiar story, reinforcing the festival’s reputation for curating globally resonant cinema.
The production leans heavily on analog aesthetics, shooting on 16mm film to evoke the grainy intimacy of Klinger’s earlier work *Porto*. Co‑written by Marina Person, a respected sommelier‑turned‑screenwriter, the script benefits from insider knowledge of the fine‑dining world, lending authenticity to the protagonist’s struggle. The visual identity, crafted by designer Filipe Lampejo, merges sleek typography with bold, wine‑colored motifs, signaling both elegance and rebellion. These creative choices position *Isabel* as a boutique‑style project that stands out amid the digital‑dominant landscape, appealing to cinephiles who appreciate tactile filmmaking.
From an industry perspective, *Isabel*’s Berlinale debut underscores a growing appetite for mid‑budget, internationally flavored dramas that can attract both critics and niche audiences. The film’s festival exposure can catalyze distribution deals across Europe and North America, opening pathways for Brazilian talent and encouraging further investment in regional stories with universal appeal. Moreover, its analog approach may inspire other filmmakers to revisit 16mm as a viable artistic tool, reinforcing the notion that storytelling depth can outweigh high‑cost production values.
Trailer and Exclusive Poster for Gabe Klinger’s Berlin Debut Isabel Uncork a Midlife Crisis
A fresh spin on a familiar tale, Gabe Klinger’s Isabel places the classic midlife-crisis story in São Paolo, Brazil, where its eponymous character—a sommelière (co-writer Marina Person) working the city’s fine-dining scene—seeks to replace grinding employment with opening her own bar. Shot on 16mm à la Klinger’s Porto, it suggests an alternately leisurely and rigorous experience: in an interview with producer Rodrigo Teixeira, our own Nick Newman called it “a movie cinephiles could show to their parents.” The first audience, however, will be those at Berlinale, where Isabel makes its world premiere on Monday, February 16, ahead of which comes a trailer and our exclusive debut of the film’s poster, designed by Filipe Lampejo.
Here’s the synopsis: “Isabel, a sommelière in São Paulo’s fine-dining scene, dreams of escaping her controlling boss and opening her own wine bar, where she decides what goes in the glass. When her plans fail to ferment as expected, Isabel must decide between playing it safe and taking her one bold chance to uncork her destiny on her own terms.”
Find the preview and exclusive poster debut below:
The post Trailer and Exclusive Poster for Gabe Klinger’s Berlin Debut Isabel Uncork a Midlife Crisis first appeared on The Film Stage.
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