Berlin Alexanderplatz ***** (1980, Günter Lamprecht, Claus Holm, Hanna Schygulla, Gottfried John, Barbara Sukowa) – Classic Movie Review 6205

Writer-director Rainer Werner Fassbinder remakes Phil Jutzi’s German classic movie of 1931 and comes up with a towering monument of film-making in an inspired attempt to capture the entire essence of Alfred Döblin’s novel in one of the longest narrative films ever made. It took even the fast-working Fassbinder nearly a year to make this TV masterpiece.

Though dark and gloomy, as usual, it is one of Fassbinder’s best works, immensely stylish, involving and moving, beautifully performed by his acting repertory company, and commandingly handled by an obviously involved writer-director.

The compelling story, based on Alfred Döblin’s fascinating novel, centres on the confused emotional and social life of ex-prisoner transit worker Franz Biberkopf (Günter Lamprecht)’s attempts to adjust to the terrible conditions of the social climate of Twenties Berlin. It has 15 and a half hours to explore the character of Biberkopf and the Alexanderplatz area of Berlin where he lives.

This extraordinary length means that the best way to watch this amazing achievement in the entirety of its 14 episodes 1980 TV series at 930 minutes is by viewers on TV in miniseries form or on DVD. Although, even better still, it has had cinema screenings too.

Indeed it was premiered at the Venice Film Festival on 28 October 1980, reappeared at the Copenhagen International Film Festival on 13 August 2003, and was screened in a restored version at the Berlin International Film Festival on 11 February 2007 as Berlin Alexanderplatz: Remastered.

It also stars Gottfried John, Barbara Sukowa, Hanna Schygulla, Claus Holm,  Franz Buchrieser, Roger Fritz, Günther Kaufmann, Ivan Desny, Volker Spengler, Barbara Valentin and Brigitte Mira.

It is written by Fassbinder, shot by Xaver Schwartzenberger, produced by Peter Märthesheimer and scored by Peer Raben.

It was a hit on German TV.

The DVD is only available on a Region 1 import.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 6205

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