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film - 2020 - NL

berlin alexanderplatz

Based on Alfred Döblin's classic novel Berlin Alexanderplatz tells the story of a Guinea Bissau refugee, Francis B. (25). He is crossing illegally from Africa to Europe when his boat gets into a storm and keels over. In mortal fear Francis swears to God that he will be a good, a decent man if HE saves him. His prayer is answered. As the sole survivor, Francis finds himself on a beach of the Mediterranean coast. Now it is up to him to keep his oath.

Francis’ way leads him to Berlin, where he honestly strives to be a good man. Yet, to legally make a living as a stateless refugee turns out to be practically impossible. Soon Francis meets the shady German drug dealer Reinhold (26) and the two men join into a fatal friendship. Repeatedly Reinhold tries to rope Francis in for his purposes. Again and again Francis resists, but eventually he gives in and renounces his pact with God. But Reinhold betrays Francis and kills his lover Mieze (19), who is pregnant. Only now Francis realizes that he has lost his way and that he has brought this misery on himself. He withstands the urge to kill Reinhold.

As a broken, but also as a new man, Francis returns to Berlin and experiences a miracle: his child has survived the murder attack on Mieze. Francis, a father now, begins a new life.

director
Burhan Qurbani
script
Burhan Qurbani, Martin Behnke
genre
drama, crime
release
2020
length
183 min
language
German
producers
Sommerhaus (DE)
co producer
Lemming Film (NL)
main cast
Nils Verkooijen, Welket Bungué, Albrecht Schuch, Jella Haase, Martin Wuttke
director of photography
Yoshi Heimrath
production design
Yvonne von Krockow
costume design
Anna Wübber
editor
Philipp Thomas
sound design
Michel Schöpping
sound mixer
Simone Galavazi