TRAILERS
Superb First Trailer for 'Berlin Alexanderplatz' Premiering at Berlinale
by Alex Billington
February 6, 2020
Source: YouTube
"I'm not made of sugar. I'm made of marble." Screen Daily has unveiled the first official trailer for the new take on Berlin Alexanderplatz, set for a major premiere at the Berlin Film Festival (aka Berlinale) later this month. The film is a new adaptation of Alfred Döblin's 1929 Weimer Republic era classic novel, which was also turned into an acclaimed TV series in the 1970s by Rainer Werner Fassbinder (also called "Berlin Alexanderplatz"). This seems to be Germany's version of Ladj Ly's Oscar nominated drama Les Miserables, borrowing the title of a classic novel, yet telling a modern-day story of black individuals living in a European country. This new film stars Welket Bungué as a refugee from Guinea Bissau who struggles to survive in Berlin without papers after illegally crossing by boat from Africa to Europe. Also starring Jella Haase and Albrecht Schuch. This looks DAMN good. I'm expecting it to earn tons of acclaim at Berlinale coming up.
Here's the first English trailer (+ poster) for Burhan Qurbani's Berlin Alexanderplatz, from YouTube:
Qurbani and co-writer Martin Behnke have drawn on elements and characters from Alfred Döblin's 1929 Weimer Republic era classic novel for this tale set in present-day Berlin. The film stars Welket Bungué as a refugee from Guinea Bissau who struggles to survive in the German capital without papers after illegally crossing by boat from Africa to Europe. His attempts to do this by honest means are challenges when he is befriended by a shady German drug dealer in a difficult relationship that will result in both tragedy and redemption. Berlin Alexanderplatz is directed by Afghan-German filmmaker Burhan Qurbani, director of the films Women Interrupted, Shahada, and We Are Young We Are Strong previously. The screenplay is written by Martin Behnke and Burhan Qurbani, adapted from Alfred Döblin's novel. This is premiering at the Berlin Film Festival this month. The film is set to open in Germany starting on April 16th coming up this spring. No other US (or international) release date is set yet - stay tuned for updates. First impression?
8 Comments
1
Hmm ... After Fassbinder? I don't know. But still, I'm willing to give it a try ..
shiboleth on Feb 6, 2020
2
Not me! I remember Fassbinder's film as I had been watching all of his stuff around that time as a girl friend of mine turned me on to him back in 1977. She ended up being my second wife and that marriage lasted all of 5 months...lol...still...she was very hip and grew up in Beverly Hills and knew what was happening...if the film world as well as music. Too bad she was crazier that a poop house rat...lol...as I must have been taking up with her. She also was the daughter of a well known actor and multiple Tony Award winner. Ah...the good ole days...I liked a lot of Fassbinder's films though and this lady turned me on to him. So.....
thespiritbo on Feb 6, 2020
3
I have the same doubts. And when I think over about what you just said, and of corurse, it's less related to your second wife, I might be reconsidering the whole thing. Namely, this has some other twist from Doeblin's and Fassbinder's (who made a series of it on the end) perspective, some modern retelling that introduce tropes and cliches from today. Plus some contemporary fast moving film narrativization of it, so standard these days... So, when I think of it, yeah, you might be right ...
shiboleth on Feb 7, 2020
4
I might also be wrong as to tell the truth this was one of my least favorite of Fassbender's output. It was just too long and I can't really remember it...which is not a good sign...lol...cheers!
thespiritbo on Feb 7, 2020
5
Don't worry about it. I saw it long time ago (was rather young) and am thinking to see it again just to be sure what to make of it (that I would do for Fassbinder). As for this new one, the jury is out and not very concerned about it. Anyway, yes, cheers ...
shiboleth on Feb 8, 2020
6
Good for you for giving it and Fassbinder another shot, but it's just too long for me and I kind of remember not liking it much. It's been a long time so who knows? Check out his Chinese Roulette from 1976. That's really my favorite one of his.
thespiritbo on Feb 9, 2020
7
I know about his Chinese Roulette and is on some version of my list (there are some others there, too). Your suggestion might speed up my looking for it. Anyway, I watched a lot of Fassbinder when I was younger, as I said already, and I just want to be sure of my impression about it now that I'm, hopefully, more mature. But you also had your share and which is also ok. Cheers ...
shiboleth on Feb 10, 2020
8
Bang! Looks great.
DAVIDPD on Feb 6, 2020
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