Berlin Alexanderplatz (2020)

A modern adaptation of one of the greatest twentieth-century novels.

Director:

Burhan Qurbani

Writers:

Martin Behnke, Alfred Döblin (novel)

Stars:

Welket Bungué, Albrecht Schuch, Jella Haase

12 wins & 14 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Welket Bungué	...	Francis
Albrecht Schuch	...	Reinhold
Jella Haase	...	Mieze
Annabelle Mandeng	...	Eva
Joachim Król	...	Pums
Richard Fouofié Djimeli	...	Ottu
Mira Elisa Goeres	...	Katie
Rufina Neumann	...	Moni
Lena Schmidtke	...	Elli
Michael Davies	...	Bantu
Nils Verkooijen	...	Berta
Faris Saleh	...	Masud
Benny O.-Arthur	...	Refugee-drug dealer
Derek Meisenburg	...	Pum's Body Guard
Thelma Buabeng	...	Amira

Storyline

Francis, 30-year-old refugee is the sole survivor of a boat which crossed the Mediterranean illegally from West Africa. When he wakes up on a beach in the south of Europe, he is determined to live a regular, decent life from now on. But he winds up in present-day Berlin where a stateless person without a work permit is treated just as mercilessly. He initially resists an offer to deal drugs in Hasenheide park, but then comes under the influence of Reinhold, his neurotic, sex-addicted pal, a drug dealer and human trafficker who takes him in. He is a man born to destroy the people around. When he meets club owner Eva and, after several dramatic experiences, the escort girl Mieze, he feels he's found something for the first time, something he's never known before: a little bit of happiness.

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Plot Keywords:

adaptation | gay interest | chapters | epilogue | jail | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Did You Know?

Connections

Version of Berlin-Alexanderplatz: The Story of Franz Biberkopf (1931)

User Reviews

Epic

The story follows the rise and fall of Francis (Welket Bungué), a refugee who tries to be a good man while earning a living in a wealthy country suppressing the options to do so. He is soon approached by a drug dealer (Albrecht Schuch) offering what seems to be a way out of his misery. Thus, the tragedy unfolds. Burhan Qurbani's handwriting as a director has significantly improved over the course of his now three feature-length films. And now he has delivered a masterpiece. The film manages to combine elements of hyper-realism with poetic moments, strengthening each other's impact. The music is sometimes subtle, sometimes loud, and always on point. The actors' delivery is gripping and powerful. The story itself is an adaptation of Döblin's masterpiece novel of the same name. It is fittingly transferred into current day Berlin, and - while staying true to the novel's intent - it is told in a far more concise manner to suit its format. I actually hate movies longer than 100 minutes, but due to its separation into 5 chapters Qurbani somehow managed to not annoy or bore me for a second.

Details

Country:

Germany Netherlands France Canada

Language:

Soninke Portuguese German English

Release Date:

16 July 2020 (Germany)

Also Known As:

Berlin Alexanderplatz

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$254,468

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sommerhaus Filmproduktion, Lemming Film, ARTE

Technical Specs

Runtime:

183 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1