Madonna’s "Filth and Wisdom"

The Material Girl premiered her directorial debut, “Filth and Wisdom,” at the Berlin International Film Festival this week.

I haven’t always been a fan of Madonna’s particular brand of entertainment, but I’ve always been impressed with her staying power and her ability to re-invent herself and remain a vital force in the industry.

Reporters quizzed her for an hour outside the press room, then waited another hour inside to see her and the documentary’s stars, Gypsy rocker Eugene Hutz and British actresses Holly Weston and Vicky McClure.

“I stalked him (Eugene) like a strange fan,” said Madonna of getting the Ukrainian musician to play the philosophical narrator and one of three main characters in the film.

More after the jump, including a video of the premiere…

Described as a comedy/drama/musical/romance, “Filth and Wisdom” revolves around a Ukrainian immigrant (Hütz) who finances his dreams of rock glory by moonlighting as a cross-dressing dominatrix, and his two female flatmates (Weston and McClure).

In a Hollywood Reporter story, Madonna said that while she’s had much success in her life, she still feels the struggle of her early years like it was yesterday.

“I think that in spite of what appears to be my material success, I still feel like the characters in that movie,” she said. “Thirty years ago, it (happiness) meant that I could feed myself and put a roof over my head, and survive in New York, carve a place for myself and get my voice heard. Now happiness is being grateful that all of those things continue to happen for me.”

What do you think? Impressed with the Material Girl’s staying power?

Check out this BBC clip:

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