Berlin Alexanderplatz (2020 film)
Berlin Alexanderplatz (German: Alexanderplatz) is a 2020 German drama film directed by Burhan Qurbani. It was selected to compete for the Golden Bear in the main competition section at the 70th Berlin International Film Festival.[1][2] An adaptation of Alfred Döblin's influential novel Berlin Alexanderplatz, the film transposes the story to the modern day with an undocumented immigrant from West Africa in the central role.[3][4]
Berlin Alexanderplatz | |
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![]() Film poster | |
Directed by | Burhan Qurbani |
Written by | Burhan Qurbani |
Based on | Berlin Alexanderplatz by Alfred Döblin |
Starring | Welket Bunguê Jella Haase Albrecht Schuch Joachim Król Thelma Buabeng |
Release date |
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Running time | 183 minutes |
Country | Germany |
Language | German |
Cast
- Welket Bunguê as Francis
- Jella Haase
- Albrecht Schuch
- Nils Verkooijen
- Joachim Król
Reception
Critical reception
Jessica Kiang for Variety detects some flaws in this update of Alfred Döblin's classic novel of masculine criminal crisis: ″Although promising a deep-cut dash of contemporary topicality by reimagining the main character as an undocumented African immigrant, there is the sense that the unimpeachable craft and performances — especially from rivetingly charismatic lead Welket Bungué — ultimately add up to just too slick a package. (...) For a film that is supposed to be a contemporary update, it can feel — especially in its ill-fated female characters, who are almost all either sex workers or one-night stands of Reinhold's — weirdly out of date. “Men like me have gone out of fashion,” says Pums at one point, and it will take more than a snazzy new set of clothes to complete the overhaul that Qurbani bravely, handsomely, but a little foolhardily attempts."[5]
See also
- Berlin-Alexanderplatz (1931)
- Berlin Alexanderplatz (1980)
References
- "The 70th Berlinale Competition and Further Films to Complete the Berlinale Special". Berlinale. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
- "Berlin Competition Lineup Revealed: Sally Potter, Kelly Reichardt, Eliza Hittman, Abel Ferrara". Variety. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
- Bénédicte Prot, "Burhan Qurbani readies Berlin Alexanderplatz for an April release". Cineuropa, 10 September 2018.
- "Berlin Alexanderplatz". www.berlinale.de. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
- Kiang, Jessica (26 February 2020). "'Berlin Alexanderplatz': Film Review". Variety. Retrieved 27 February 2020.