With his current Berlin Alexanderplatz film adaptation, director Burhan Qurbani has transformed Alfred Döblin’s classic 1929 novel into an electrifying, modern gangster epic.
Unfortunately, the film did not receive the attention it deserved in cinemas in 2020. All the better that Arte is broadcasting the German free TV premiere of the masterpiece of drug (dealing), love, intrigue and betrayal on Wednesday evening.
Berlin Alexanderplatz captivates as a three-hour gangster epic
As a variation on the book’s story, Qurbani’s adaptation revolves around the African refugee Francis (Welket Bungué) who comes to the German capital illegally. Here he wants to make a living as a construction worker, where he meets the charismatic and obscure drug dealer Reinhold (Albrecht Schuch). Gradually becomes Francis devoured by the shadowy world of Berlinwhile his love for the noble prostitute Mieze (Jella Haase) is put to the severest test.
The director tells his Berlin Alexanderplatz as an overly long epic that combines bitter realism and captivatingly exaggerated genre elements visually stunning metropolitan symphony transformed. As a three-hour tour de force, which is divided into five chapters and an epilogue, Berlin Alexanderplatz impresses not only with the main actor, but above all with two stars in supporting roles.
Jella Haase finally leaves her Chantal from Fack ju Göhte behind as a self-confident prostitute, while Albrecht Schuch continues to assert himself as one of the currently best actors of his generation as Reinhold, who is as frightening as he is seductive.
When is Berlin Alexanderplatz on TV?
Arte shines at Berlin Alexanderplatz Aug 9 at 8:15 p.m out of. You can already watch the epic in the media library.
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Since 2015, Netflix has not only released exclusive series, but also films. We looked at the titles of the past few years and selected the eight best Netflix original films. You can find out exactly which ones are involved in this edition of our podcast Streamgegräber.
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From brutal war drama to dreamy fantasy adventures, from blockbusters to insider tips: you can discover some strong original films on Netflix. Even the lost work of a master director has appeared on the streaming service.
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