Decoder (1984)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Muscha

Writers:

Klaus Maeck (screenplay)
Klaus Maeck (story)

Release Date:

19 February 1984 (West Germany)

Genre:

Mystery

Tagline:

muzak is more than music

Plot Keywords:

Music | Independent Film

Cast

FM Einheit	...	F.M.
William Rice	...	Jaeger
Christiane Felscherinow	...	Christiana
Britzhold Baron De Belle	...	H-Burger Trainer
Matthias Fuchs	...	H-Burger Manager
William S. Burroughs	...	Old Man
Genesis P-Orridge	...	High Priest
Slim Darko	...	Pirate
Erwin Lieske	...	Pirate
Mona Mur	...	Pirate (as Sabine Bredy)
Sigurd Mueller	...	Pirate
Matthias Wein	...	Pirate
Peter Zoyt	...	Pirate
Alexander Hacke	...	Pirate (as Alexander von Borsig)
Jeff Moss	...	Pirate

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

West Germany

Language:

German | English | Portuguese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Berlin, Germany

Company:

Fett Film

Movie Connections:

Featured in William S. Burroughs: Commissioner of Sewers (1991)

Soundtrack:

Compressed Metal

VERY TENSE POETRY

A film with the simple story subject of a man who wants to oppose the ever present muzak in a hamburger restaurant and other places deserves any credit it can get, surely if it has been made into this remarkable and very stylistic German cult films of the 80's. Inspired by W.S. Burroughs, who also has a cameo, the makers came up with a very tense, very good edited and very rhythmic film that invites the viewer not only to watch, but also to feel the poetry of the film.

There is the wonderful cinematography by Johanna Heer, giving in general the film a steal blue colour. Variations are made for the different characters and different situations. In an interview producer Klaus Maeck may have said that to him this style seemed to be exaggerated, I think that the film could not have done without this cinematographic style.

Then there is the very good music that accompanies the film, and adding to the rhythm of the film. The script, simple as it may be, is well written, although there are a couple of flaws, the main being that it takes too long. But do not expect a linear told story, this is not that kind of a film; you have to carefully study and interpret every image to know what is going on. This does not mean that the makers were not able to tell a story, it is part of the overall poetic style: the viewer has to go through this film.

Though the acting may not be of greatest importance as the filmed image is main story teller, some of the acting should have been much better. With all due respect to Christiane F., she never comes further than saying her lines. Bill Rice as the undercover agent is the best and seems to have walked out of a Raymond Chandler novel.

The riots you see are actual riots the makers made use of. The riots accompanied President Reagan's visit to Berlin. After seeing this film you probably will not enter any hamburger restaurant again, which to me may be the strongest reason to watch the film. I recommend this to the discriminating film buff. What a pity that this team never produced another one. (8/10)