Goodbye to Berlin

Cabaret (1972) 

Yes, I know there is a trend to this blog - films set in/about Berlin. Some of it is coincidence, some of it my intrigue into the city and how it has been shaped by its history and mythology as being a turbulent city with war, peace and bohemians. 

In Cabaret, Berlin is not landlocked between Capitalist and Communist states, but instead is being roused up by Fascism: its 1931 and the Nazis are shaking the status quo. However, the film is not centred around the politics of the country. There is instead a jazzy, uplifting yet ambiguous romance between whimsical Cabaret dancer Sally Bowles and refined English teacher and Cambridge graduate Brian Roberts. They have a symbiotic relationship as Sally Bowles' attitude to life; carefree but entangled in childish desires affects 'Bri' as he loosens up and feeds off the energy that Berlin feeds. Again, it is interesting though how two lifestyles conflict between their hedonism and the foreboding maliciousness of the Nazi's that are soon to enthrall Germany. Brian becomes angry and their tightening grip yet still citizens believe they will pass out of popularity soon.

The film is undoubtedly erotic although its displayed more obscure than expected. The Kit Kat Cabaret club opens the film and becomes a motif for displaying Sally Bowles's thoughts through the songs she performs along side the enigmatic, but frolicsome MC (Joel Grey). The noise and colour are exciting and the dances are dynamic and very theatrical. The setting is a fusion of vintage, with modern highlights as Bob Fosse (Director & Choreographer) displays his unique choreography - and the costume design, although true to the era, reflects the trend in the 70s to emulate the style of the 30s.

Sally Bowles as Liza Minelli is perfect casting as she portrays a confidant exterior when dancing, her sensual routines combined with her definitive black outfit with the bowler hat. This is juxtaposed with her childlike face, yearning eyes and ladybird-esque hair cut that defines her but incorporates her vulnerability alongside youthful integrity. These attributes make her a very curious and engaging character!

They are just too good!

The dynamism of the characters, who slot into the bubbling location successfully, mean that relationships fluctuate just as the city is constantly changing. Christopher Isherwood - the author of the original text that influences the film - mirrors himself in the text as Brian. Brian is indecisive about his sexuality which makes him seem more insecure - this feeling is echoed all around the film - as if he is moving away from his repressive background of Cambridge University, into the unknown and almost wholly accepting society of Cabaret dancers and Playboy millionaires.

Apart from these serious undertones, the film has a great soundtrack, the song Money makes the World go around is very relevant today. This film should never become decadent.
****

The Secret Communist State in a Bedroom

Good Bye, Lenin! (2003)

This German film is unique and succeeds in its quirky portrayal of tragic and momentous events, some which define a young mans life, others define the 20th Century. The story is quite far- fetched, but yet it is not outrageous. The comedic aspect of the film relieves the cynicism one might have for the strange plot; a mother, and a devout communist, has a heart attack when she sees her son protesting for easy crossing into the enemy state on the other side of the Berlin Wall. This puts her in a coma, sleeping through the swift deformation of all that she believes in. To prevent his mother having another heart-attack from the shock of seeing the effects, the loss of her socialist fatherland, the son Alex recreates the oppressive regime in the secret, and safety of a bedroom.


There is not much dramatization of the footage, the pulse-raising footage come from old newsreels of exultation as the wall collapses, or rocket launches or bombastic troops marching in true soviet style. Sentimentality was a pleasant addition as subplots of the familial longing for the lost father, or the pure love of mother and son. There is suspenseful tension when the bedridden mother nearly catches glimpses of western infiltration - a zeppelin advertising greetings from the west and Coca Cola trucks rolling past. There are awkward moments of an old socialist reunion for the mothers' birthday party where ex Young Pioneers are paid to sing drab pompous old communist songs of progress, plus scenes where tv news reels faked in the studio of Alex's friend are watched by the mother who is ignorant to the untruths conveyed - whilst Alex hopes that she stays that way. The lies in the media were a fervent feature of communism yet Alex doesn't realise he is acting similarly to General Secretaries of the Party like Khrushchev or Gorbachev.

Germany in the film is shown to be a new hotbed of culture. After having recently vising the country for a history trip, seeing the colourful yet bleak architecture juxtaposed against the weather-worn, gaudy Gothic architectural relics was visually interesting. This echos the film - there are bursts of bright colour in the furniture and fashion despite being backed by towering council blocks. Especially the Wall, as seen in the film, the youth cultures of Berlin thrived off it as a art space for political graffiti, even though they had the potential to be apprehended by Stasi Police if an 'Ossi (someone from the East)'.

Alex's eyes are opened when he meets Lara, a young nurse, who introduces him to West Berlin club culture. A riot of clashing techno sounds and men on basses in mechanical costumes emerge. The knowledge that families deserted Berlin apartments when they escaped to the West opens up a massive opportunity to young adults to commandeer the houses. Next, ensues a life of spontaneous fun, living off the explosive culture, unfamiliar to East Berliners.

It is hard to really understand the elation or disappointment when two halves of a city merge after only 40 Years of being apart. Families would be reunited and risk of escaping for freedom would dissolve. The influx of something they had been indoctrinated to believe was dangerous (capitalism and a crazed consumerist society) is hard for some to comprehend. It was a strange time only to be fully appreciated if you were a Berliner in the 1990s only 20 years ago.

Very good if your studying the cold war for GCSE like me ;) so ****