BERLIN CALLING

Response

       

      I enjoyed watching 'Berlin Calling'. I personally love techno so I could

<http://www.berlin-calling.de
/en/soundtrack> October, 2011

connect with the film in a musical aspect. This film seemed more raw then most films generated in the United States. When I say raw I am referring multiple things from this film: the use of drugs comes across as casual and isn't accompanied with dramatic after scenes like many films in the United States, the multiple sex scenes, the shots of the psych ward, scenes of the Warden admitting she has different intentions then what's implied upon Ickarus entering, multiple sex partners, and the night life. The reason I think the film is raw is also because while all of these things are happening it has a light and casual feel, much like reality. In American films, these scenes would be full of dramatic music and more violence or dramatic acting from the characters on behalf of the main character. While in reality, life is more similar to 'Berlin Calling' then any other film I've seen. The scene with Ickarus falling on the street is more realistic then many other scenes I've come across. While it isn't as exciting as Johnny Depp in 'Blow' fighting with his wife, snorting a line, and throwing clothes in a suit case running from the cops it is still just as damaging to a person's health.

<http://www.ohjohnny.net/blow/blow.html> October, 2011

         There wasn't much I saw in this film that I don't think would happen in the United States. I know that in the city of Saint Cloud, most wouldn't come across the situations that are witnessed in 'Berlin Calling', but if you hunt you could find many of them at a smaller scale. I'm sure most of the behavior portrayed in the movie occurs all over the world it's just not until a person enters a very large town that they will see most of this behavior. Depending on the religious affiliation of the country will also have a large affect on the common behavior of the society. But, as I stated before, I was shocked to see how affectionate the males were with each other. Most of the males I know will shake hands and that's the extent, but in this film they embraced each other for long periods of time. I was also surprised to see how reserved Mathilda seemed to be about her feelings on the matter of Ickarus's drug use. Most people I know don't have a problem saying more then necessary to get their opinion heard. 'Berlin Calling' was a wonderful film and I'm glad we viewed it.

BERLIN CALLING

Questions

1. What do drugs mean to Ickarus?

<http://kalojanedelchev.blogspot.com/2009/11/
berlin-calling-2008.html> October, 2011

- Drugs are a way for Ickarus to escape the hectic life he lives. It's a way to escape from the turmoil he's been through regards to the changes within the country, loss of his mother, and lack of acceptance. Drugs also allow Ickarus to have a deeper connection with the one thing that's been there for him through everything, his music. By taking drugs his mind is altered and he hears beats differently and notices details he wouldn't be able to focus on when he's sober. Drugs are also a way to keep up with his fans, many of his fans also take drugs to connect to the music and escape reality.

2. Why, when, and how are his fans taking drugs, and which drugs do they take?

- Some of the drugs his fans take are pills, keratine, ecstasy, cocaine, and PMA (strong hallucinagen). They typically take these drugs while at shows (before, during, and/or after for the 'after party'). In the movie the drug shown taken the most was cocaine, doing lines in the bathroom or anywhere they could. Most of the fans take the drugs for the same reasons as Ickarus. They take the drugs mainly to connect with the music and people around them, but I'm sure many of them take the drugs to escape reality and anything that is troubling them.

3. While we can see that his drug habits get him ill and into a psychosis, and while we witness his relapse and inability to work successfully, why does the subculture Ickarus is in focus on drugs?

- It almost seems as if Germany was going through their 'hippy days' we witnessed in America during the sixties and seventies. But, the difference is that our drug era was spurred by war and Germany's seemed to be started from the wall coming down. The wall is down and now everyone has a lot more space and is exposed to people from a different society, they didn't know what to do with themselves. More freedom. So, the youth began to express themselves and experiment with things that probably weren't familiar. Techno became a hit and along with it drugs, the youth could escape the weird, ever changing reality they were thrown into.

4. Compare the standards you know from your home society with the people you see depicted in this movie. Which are the stark differences and contrasts?

- First and foremost, growing up in good ol' Saint Cloud, Minnesota sex is looked at as a more private, naughty activity that people don't discuss. Where as in Berlin Calling it is shown for what it is, part of life, something that's beautiful, normal, natural, and whatever you want it to be (referring to the scene where both woman and Ickarus were sexually involved). This movie was also different when it came to the scene of drug users, which is understandable because of the size of the town. Berlin is very large and the larger the town is the more people with differences can connect. So, there was a larger population of people using drugs and being more open then people in my community because the population of drug users isn't as large. I also noticed that it seems males are more affectionate then what I've grown up with. Icarus was affectionate with his brother and father several times embracing them in long hugs. It also seemed that they seemed more reserved about their emotions initially but when they did express them they would express a lot of emotion. I feel like where I've grown up people tend to express a lot of emotion all of the time.

5. Germany is considered a strong industrial nation the world over. Do you think that the youth culture as depicted here could change that? How about work ethics of Ickarus and of Alice, the label director who fires and then resigns him?

- Yes, I could see that Germany might move away from industrial and more towards media. But, I think that Germany will always have a strong industry because it seems to be Germany's core foundation for the time being. I think every society's work ethics have depleated in the last fifty years since there isn't as much need for human production (replaced by machines), so people have more free time and less jobs. Alice seemed to have a strong work ethic and Ickarus did not seem to have much work ethic at all.

6. Which similar "cult movies" of US origin have you seen, if any?

- Rocky Horror Picture Show, Pink Floyd's: The Great Wall, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Twilight series (?), Dazed and Confused

<http://www.sodahead.com/entertainment/what-is-your-favorite-
bookbook-series-at-the-moment/question-839243/> October, 2011

HOMEWORK

"How was and is the book 'All quiet on the Western Front' received by readers and what does it stand for?"

  (1)

The first review I read, the individual said they wanted to read it a second time it was such a good read.  The author of this review also said 
[Clip] Remarque's prose is simple, clear, concise, modern [End Clip]  (1)  
I would have to say I agree with this reviewer.  When I picked up this book in High School I thought to myself that it was going to be another novel I wouldn't be able to relate to the narrator due to the time difference, but refreshingly, it was not.  Remarque used beautiful wording in this novel allowing it to transcend over many other books written during his time.
      The second review I read gave this book praise and focused more on the purpose of the novel.  [Clip]  It was a book written to reflect the human cost of war. It shows us how war has a hidden face that most people do not see until it is too late. [...] The major theme of the novel All Quiet on the Western Front is that war must be avoided at all cost because of the severe consequences that will arise. War causes people to lose friends, makes people worried and creates a feeling of uncertainty among innocent people. War also creates hatred among people. For example, two friends of different nationalities may become bitter enemies only because their respective countries are at war. [End Clip] (2)
I agree and disagree with this reviewer.  I agree that a lot of Remarque's message includes the cost of war in casualties and that war is glamorized specifically during this time, but I don't agree that Remarque intended on stating war must be avoided at all costs.  I believe every individual would make exceptions for war when it pertains to extreme cases, including Remarque. I think Remarque's message was mainly to show the lack of humility it creates in these young men and the robbing of innocence and the desire to live from them and for what?  For killing young men just like them that have also been brainwashed into thinking being a soldier is glamorous and will fill them so full of pride they won't care if everyone they've known their whole life dies around them.  I think the reviewer touched on some key points but didn't fully grasp Remarque's intended message, but it does have room for different interpretation.
      The third review I read had a good wording for the message behind All Quiet on the Western Front [Clip] Following a lesser- thought-about war, Erich Maria Remarque’s All Quiet on the Western Front breaks from the traditional romanticizing of warfare and instead examines the harsh realities that young people face when they are sent to fight old people’s wars. [End Clip]  I liked the way the author of this review worded the point of this novel, they said it very bluntly.  The men during WWI were sent to fight a war old politicians decided these men needed to fight.  During the novel Paul and the boys even discuss this because when Paul went home to visit he sat in on some men discussing what the army should do next and they had no idea what they were putting these men through.  They didn't care that the Germans were losing, they continued to send these boys in for dead.
    It seemed All Quiet on the Western Front  was received very well by readers, I did not read a single review that said they didn't enjoy the novel.  Many reviewers said it kept them on edge and was very well written.  I agree with most reviewers on the purpose of the novel and enjoyed reading it myself. 






Sources:


1.  "Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori."* October, 2011 (Online) 
          <http://www.mashmagazine.com/00april/aprilbook.html>


2.  Cooper, Micheal.  "All Quiet on the Western Front- A Book Review" October,
          2011<http://ezinearticles.com/?All-Quiet-on-the-Western-Front---A-Book- 
          Review&id=84991> 
3. "Book Review: All Quiet on the Western Front" October,2011.<http:
          //www.dosomething.org/tipsandtools/book-review-all-quiet-western- 
          front>