Reviews

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.

After leaving the movie theatre today I couldn't help myself and started trying to fit 'Ai no mukidashi' in, I tried to find its place between all the other movies I watched. I guess there is no hope for me to ever succeed. There is an endless list of things to be said about or connected to, so many discussions to be held about this wonderful little piece of art, that there is no possibility to get to the point. I could continue writing for quite a while, it's just no use. But still there must be something to be said about it. So, what's best? It's so easy to consume! No 4 hour tour de force through discussions about religion, love, art, whatever. But isn't it boring, trivial, dumb? No, not at all. It has more substance than one could handle. It's just pure. You'll love it. For sure. I did.

Two young Japanese outsiders decide to end their life with a group of people committing suicide. Their journey gives both of them an idea of what life would have to offer and let's them reconsider their decision. This movie gives a radical and for a western audience disturbing answer to a fundamental question many people have to face: Is there a place for me? Although it is a taboo to even pose the question in many societies. Nevertheless it is relevant for quite a lot of people. Most of the western audience will feel offended and hence maybe miss a pretty successful attempt of a realisation of that sensitive matter. But still I am not sure whether it is right to ask such a question without giving a reason first why it should be asked: It could too easily be the case, that these two minors are just depressive and were never really offered a chance to escape their depressing situation. So it is up to you to decide.

The camera captures serious and funny moments (sometimes both at the same) of three young (15 year old I think) girls who have grown up in Berlin-Kreuzberg. The movie is able to shorten the distance to its three main characters without losing feeling for the serious problems they will have to face on their way to adulthood. Besides that, there's plenty of typical problems of teenagers in puberty in it, so it has a somewhat nostalgic note, too. Overall it is well done and succeeds in presenting an entertaining movie which will still give you enough to think about. Especially the three girls (my favourite being the cheeky Tanutscha) make this movie worth watching. Of course there is a price to pay: Sitting in a cinema with plenty of South-German, pseudo-intellectual and -alternative students in their 20s or early 30s, giving me the feeling they are laughing at the expense of the under-privileged while never taking serious what these pretty tough girls have to say. "Muschis" Tanutscha would call them, I think. She is right.