Berlin-Alexanderplatz or The Story of Franz Biberkopf (Die Geschichte von Franz Biberkopf) is a 1931 German drama film directed by Phil Jutzi and starring Heinrich George, Maria Bard and Margarete Schlegel. It was adapted from the 1929 novel of the same title by Alfred Döblin, who also co-wrote the screenplay.
Franz Biberkopf has served four years in prison. His return to normal life is not successful. Biberkopf struggles to find work and decency in a rapidly changing, gritty Berlin. Despite his efforts, he is forced back into crime by his former cronies and, after losing an arm in a car incident involving the criminal Reinhold, he finds himself trapped in a life of, misery and, eventually, a short-lived, unstable luxury.
Released just two years after the novel and shortly before the Nazi rise to power, this version offers a more direct and faster-paced narrative compared to the, later 1980, 15-hour Rainer Werner Fassbinder, version.
The film is noted for its realistic, location-based cinematography that captures the “Zeitgeist” of 1930s Berlin Street life, offering a stark contrast to later, more stylized adaptations.
Watch the movie before Thursday, November 20, then join the Zoom meeting at 7:00PM and come prepared with your comments and questions. DGC Board Member Marsha McCoy will once again be our moderator, and other Board Members will participate in the discussion as well.
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We look forward to seeing you on Thursday, February 26 @7:00 PM via Zoom!