Robert Pattinson is one of the most important film stars who visited Berlinale 2018. He presented the film Damsel, directed by the Zellner brothers. Unfortunately the film was a great disappointment. It was an attempt to create a modern comedic Western. In it Robert Pattinson played one of the strangest roles in his career, he played a kind of idiot, who is in love with a girl. Everything in this film is inane, including the strange script, where the motivations of the characters are unclear. It is poorly shot, with constant symmetrical framing which very quickly becomes tedious to watch.

The film is shot in a beautiful location which adds to the artistic quality of the film, however the monotonous lighting, central composition diminishes the beauty of the landscape. Although the film is a comedy, the viewers barely chuckled during the screening.

All of the characters are underdeveloped and paper thin, the dialogues are uninteresting and stupid. At the press conference the directors said that they enjoy classic westerns, but it is unclear why did they make such a film which lacks all qualities of those great westerns which supposedly inspired them.

It is a pity that Robert Pattinson keeps playing roles which are not suitable for him — the role of Samuel Alabaster does not add anything to his acting portfolio.
There is no doubt that the film would fail to interest any serious festivals if Robert Pattinson would not come there personally. The film is silly and pointless. The role of Penelope was played by Mia Wasikowska, her character was one dimensional and boring.

It is not clear what directors wanted to produce, drama, comedy, grotesque or western, but whatever were their intentions they failed.