Berlin Alexanderplatz

Author

Rainer Werner Fassbinder

Call Number

• DVD FOREIGN (CEN)

Edition

Special ed.

Languages

In German, with optional English subtitles.

Performers

Günter Lamprecht, Hanna Schygulla, Barbara Sukowa, Gottfried John, Franz Buchrieser, Claus Holm, Brigitte Mira, Roger Fritz, Elisabeth Trissenaar, Karin Baal, Barbara Valentin, Ivan Desny, Karlheinz Braun, Günther Kaufman, Volker Spengler, Vitus Zeplichal.

Publication Information

[Irvington, NY] : Criterion Collection, [2007]

Physical Description

7 videodiscs (940 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in. + 1 booklet (70 p. ; col. ill. ; 19 cm.)

Audience

Not rated.

Summary

After spending four years in prison for killing his girlfriend, lumbering man-child Franz Biberkopf is finally released back into society. He wants to stay honest now he has left jail, but it is tough in the Alexanderplatz section of Berlin. After failing to succeed in several "regular" jobs, he falls in with some old cohorts and an on-again, off-again association with thugs. Post-war society is crumbling, and it appears that nothing will bring it back.

Notes

Title from container.

"Remastered - a film in 13 parts & an epilogue"--Container.

From the novel by Alfred Döblin.

Originally broadcast as a mini-series on German television in 1980.

Special features: two documentaries by Fassbinder Foundation president Juliane Lorenz ; Hans-Dieter Hartl's 1980 documentary Notes on the making of "Berlin Alexanderplatz" ; Phil Jutzi's 1931, 90-minute film of Alfred Döblin's novel, from a screenplay co-written by Döblin himself ; video interview with Peter Jelavich, author of Berlin Alexanderplatz : radio, film, and the death of Weimar culture.

Contents

• Die strafe beginnt = The punishment begins Wie soll man leben, wenn man nicht sterben will = How is one to live if one doesn't want to die? Ein Hammer auf den Kopf kann die Seele verletzen = A hammer blow to the head can injure the soul Eine handvoll menschen in der tiefe der stille = A handful of people in the depths of silence Ein schnitter mit der gewalt vom lieben Gott = A reaper with the power of our Lord Eine Liebe, das kostet immer viel = Love has its price Merke, einen schwur kann man amputieren = Remember, an oath can be amputated Die sonne wärmt die haut, die sie manchmal verbrennt = The suns warms the skin, but burns it sometimes too (62 min.)
• Von den ewigkeiten zwischen den vielen und den wenigen = About the eternities between the many and the few (62 min.) ; Einsamkeit reißt auch in mauern risse des irrsinns = Loneliness tears cracks of madness even in walls Wissen ist macht und morgenstund hat gold im mund = Knowledge is power and the early bird catches the worm Die Schlange in der Seele der Schlange = The serpent in the soul of the serpent Das äußere und das innere und das geheimnis der angst vor dem geheimnis = The outside and the inside and the secret of fear of the secret Fassbinder, Berlin Alexanderplatz, 14-mein traum vom traum des Franz Biberkopf von Alfred Döblin : ein epilog = Fassbinder, Berlin Alexanderplatz, 14-my dream of the dream of the Franz Biberkopf by Alfred Döblin : an epilogue Fassbinder's Berlin Alexanderplatz : a mega movie and its story / Berlin Alexanderplatz : beobachtungen bei dreharbeiten = Notes on the making of Berlin Alexanderplatz / Fassbinder's Berlin Alexanderplatz remastered : beobachtungen bei der restauration = Notes on the restoration / Berlin Alexanderplatz : die geschichte Franz Biberkopf = Berlin Alexanderplatz : the story of Franz Biberkopf / Peter Jelavich Interview