I have seen so many films about drug addiction, and not one of them can equal the sheer power of this one. The life of this 14 year old West Berlin junkie is crafted with an astounding level of realism. Her downward spiral into heroin addiction and prostitution is captured by Ulrich Edel, who holds nothing back in his depiction. We see through Christiane's eyes, every filthy toilet, every creepy, slimy john whom she must trick with for drug money, every moment of terror and desperation. At this age, everything is felt so intensely. Christiane, a young teenager from a "hell on Earth" place called Gropistadt, a truly dark and bleak part of Neukoln, West Berlin. A place where there is absolutely nothing for a teenager to do. She discovers a place called "The Sound", a cavernous disco located near the posh and touristy "Kurfuerstendamm". "The Sound" is a seedy teen hangout, infested with drugs, and with dealers only too happy to feed Valium and heroin to kids eager to escape their dreary reality and to have fun. Here is where Christiane meets Detlef, a boy her age. Detlef starts using heroin soon after they meet, and Christiane, scared of losing him to the drug, begins using also. It is especially important to notice that the film doesn't glamorize heroin. As soon as the hard drug use begins, the mood of the film changes instantly. The wonderful music of David Bowie whom Christiane worships is heard frequently throughout the first section of the film. After her and her friends become junkies, the Bowie music disappears, which is very symbolic, i think. Thankfully director Edel didn't make the mistake that so many American directors make when filming stories about teens: The actors here are genuine teenagers, around 14/15 years old. This makes the film so much more powerful and shocking, and much more believable. The effects of heroin on these kids is staggering to behold; they turn into these sickly shadows of their former selves, like zombies, in search of their next fix. And strangely, Christiane and her friends never seem to enjoy the high from the heroin. You will never see such a bleak vision of kids lost in a surreal hell of drug addiction. And to add further to the intensity, the film is long, 138 minutes uncut, becoming steadily darker and seedier by the minute, until the viewer wonders just how long can this young girl go on like this without completely self-destructing. And amazingly, throughout the running time, the film never preaches, not for a moment. And it never becomes sentimental, as most American drug films often do. The film style is specifically German. I doubt that any American director could have created such a dark and gritty film about people so young. "Christiane F: Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo" remains one of the most well-known and admired films to ever come out of Germany.
97 Reviews
Makes "Requiem for a Dream" look like Sesame Street
Groverdox25 September 2017
"Christiane F." is a bleak, harrowing look at drug abuse among Berlin youth in the 1970s.
It is perhaps the grittiest look at addiction I've ever seen on film.
The only problem is that you never really get close to the characters. You get close to what they do - and what the people around them do - but you never feel like you know the main character that well.
Part of the power of the movie comes from the casting of an actress who looks every bit as young as the character she's playing. You see her come precariously close to danger so many times, but the movie would be much more gripping if we were able to get closer to her.
The movie has many nauseating scenes of drug use and the sickness that results from it. I couldn't help thinking that this would be a good movie to show to kids to turn them off drugs. I actually felt physically ill while watching parts of it.
It is perhaps the grittiest look at addiction I've ever seen on film.
The only problem is that you never really get close to the characters. You get close to what they do - and what the people around them do - but you never feel like you know the main character that well.
Part of the power of the movie comes from the casting of an actress who looks every bit as young as the character she's playing. You see her come precariously close to danger so many times, but the movie would be much more gripping if we were able to get closer to her.
The movie has many nauseating scenes of drug use and the sickness that results from it. I couldn't help thinking that this would be a good movie to show to kids to turn them off drugs. I actually felt physically ill while watching parts of it.
We, the children from Bahnhof Zoo
andrabem26 June 2007
For a long time I had misgivings about this film. I thought that it would be like so many others, where a teenager enters in the world of drugs, lives through hell and, in the end, returns safely to the womb of family and society - in-between we are treated with edifying speeches delivered by mothers and/or fathers, with rights to tears and lots of sentimentality.
This is not the case of "Christiane F. - Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo". The film is direct and honest and shows the events as viewed by the children from Bahnhof Zoo. The film tries to show things as they are and be objective. No moralist speeches are given. That's why the film has such power. The first film scenes show Berlin in the night. The main attraction for Christiane and friends is the discotheque Sound. It all begins there.
There are many night scenes in the film. The days look dark and gloomy. In the beginning their meeting place is Sound, but as the road becomes narrower, there remains only one place for them: The Bahnhof Zoo. Days and nights seem to merge more and more. And the day resembles more and more the night. A long night, a short step can lead to eternal night.
This stuff almost begs to be treated in a sensationalistic way. But "Christiane F. - Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo" is a serious film. It deserves to be seen.
This is not the case of "Christiane F. - Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo". The film is direct and honest and shows the events as viewed by the children from Bahnhof Zoo. The film tries to show things as they are and be objective. No moralist speeches are given. That's why the film has such power. The first film scenes show Berlin in the night. The main attraction for Christiane and friends is the discotheque Sound. It all begins there.
There are many night scenes in the film. The days look dark and gloomy. In the beginning their meeting place is Sound, but as the road becomes narrower, there remains only one place for them: The Bahnhof Zoo. Days and nights seem to merge more and more. And the day resembles more and more the night. A long night, a short step can lead to eternal night.
This stuff almost begs to be treated in a sensationalistic way. But "Christiane F. - Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo" is a serious film. It deserves to be seen.
Disturbing and harrowing drama.
HumanoidOfFlesh15 January 2003
"Christiane F" is the first film made by German director Ulrich Edel.The movie looks almost like a documentary what makes it even more disturbing.The acting is excellent-Natja Brunckhorst truly shines as a Christiane,who slowly becomes addicted to heroin.The atmosphere is really gritty and dark,and the film pulls no punches with its depiction of Berlin's drug world.So if you liked "Requiem for a Dream" or "Naked Lunch" give this one a look.My rating:10 out of 10.
harrowing realistic drug movie
SnoopyStyle26 December 2015
In the 70s, David Bowie fan Christiane is a young teen living in a Berlin apartment block with her mother and little sister Sabine. Sabine decides to go live with their father. Christiane follows cool schoolmate Kessi to the disco "Sound" where she finds new friends. They do minor mayhem and drugs. Christiane hates that they do H. Soon she's also doing heroin as she slowly gets drawn into the dark world of drugs and sexual exploitation. She and boyfriend Detlef are forced to do more and more for their next hit.
Natja Brunckhorst was actually 14 filming this movie. Her youth really sells this harrowing story about drug addiction spreading among young people. It may be cheesy but it would be an even bigger shock if the movie starts with her having a childlike birthday party. It would put her age and innocence front and center. This is not a fun romp like Trainspotting. This is a straight forward unflinching look at the damage from drug addiction. All the kids look worse and worse as the movie goes on. It's a little long but it shows the entire long road downwards.
Natja Brunckhorst was actually 14 filming this movie. Her youth really sells this harrowing story about drug addiction spreading among young people. It may be cheesy but it would be an even bigger shock if the movie starts with her having a childlike birthday party. It would put her age and innocence front and center. This is not a fun romp like Trainspotting. This is a straight forward unflinching look at the damage from drug addiction. All the kids look worse and worse as the movie goes on. It's a little long but it shows the entire long road downwards.
One of the most thought-provoking, interesting and disturbing films I have ever seen
Mother_of_all_Opossums7 July 2004
I really wasn't prepared for this film, or was I? I had been recommended it, and told it was disturbing, but it certainly had a massive effect on me.
Christiane F is the true story of a girl who gets seduced by the German nightlife and David Bowie, and slowly drifts onto heroin.
There are several disturbing parts of this movie. The heroin/prostitution scenes are disturbing, but I didn't get disturbed by these as much as I did the story. The media would have us believe that heroin users and dealers are monsters and don't have a right to live. The people in this movie are real, and easy to identify with.
I definitely recommend this movie, and compared to Trainspotting (a film I also enjoyed) is much more realistic.
Christiane F is the true story of a girl who gets seduced by the German nightlife and David Bowie, and slowly drifts onto heroin.
There are several disturbing parts of this movie. The heroin/prostitution scenes are disturbing, but I didn't get disturbed by these as much as I did the story. The media would have us believe that heroin users and dealers are monsters and don't have a right to live. The people in this movie are real, and easy to identify with.
I definitely recommend this movie, and compared to Trainspotting (a film I also enjoyed) is much more realistic.
Childhood? What childhood?
leereddy3 January 2013
Christiane F - We The Children Of Bahnhof Zoo is a 1981 film directed by Ulrich Edel based on the torrid accounts of a young girl living in West Berlin during the 1970's and her addiction to heroin and subsequent descent into prostitution.
Based on the accounts of her non-fiction book of the same name the film details the period in which she began experimenting with drugs, such as cannabis and L.S.D, to her initial foray into heroin use and ending with her complete abasement.
Shot with a low budget and employing a large number of first time actors, many of whom chose never to further a career in film, as well as a large number of extras sourced by the production team who were in fact real life junkies and down and outs. These factors alone contribute to the films startling sense of realism and authenticity.
Also, many of the films locations such as the club where Christiane hung out and the nefarious "Zoo" station where young addicts would prostitute themselves are the original locations in which the characters experiences are based, adding further to the films genuine portrayal of the seedy drug scene of West Berlin in the 70's.
The cinematography is bleak and unforgiving and brilliantly captures the barbarous nature of the scene and subject matter. Edels sparse and careful approach gives the piece an almost documentary style and no doubt this unflinching depiction, along with the graphic, perfunctory portrayal of teenage drug abuse contributed to its controversy.
Natja Brunckhorst provides the role of Chritiane and turns an astonishing debut as the heart breaking girl whose life debases to unimaginable depths within such a short space of time. Showing many audiences across Europe that the looming Heroin epidemic was not just confined to older people but also its ruthless and savage affects and how immediate its ravages take place.
This film pulls no punches. Its gritty, no nonsense representation of heroin, and its consequences, are shocking and tragic. The director also manages to take these dissolute children and allow us to view them free of judgement and witness first hand the terrible conditions in which some youths find themselves living within the confines of a so called civilised society. Many a question will arise when watching this film; how, why etc. But its principal aim is to simply allow us a front row seat to a window into a world most of us are hitherto unaccustomed - the nefarious, cruel and grievous life of a teenage addict who ambulates the inevitable path toward prostitution and ultimately burnout.
A great film with fantastic performances and above else, a great soundtrack provided by David Bowie. If you thought Trainspotting back in the late 90's was a shocking film about heroin abuse then this piece will hit you hard because despite its cult status this film is as real and as heart breaking as it gets.
Based on the accounts of her non-fiction book of the same name the film details the period in which she began experimenting with drugs, such as cannabis and L.S.D, to her initial foray into heroin use and ending with her complete abasement.
Shot with a low budget and employing a large number of first time actors, many of whom chose never to further a career in film, as well as a large number of extras sourced by the production team who were in fact real life junkies and down and outs. These factors alone contribute to the films startling sense of realism and authenticity.
Also, many of the films locations such as the club where Christiane hung out and the nefarious "Zoo" station where young addicts would prostitute themselves are the original locations in which the characters experiences are based, adding further to the films genuine portrayal of the seedy drug scene of West Berlin in the 70's.
The cinematography is bleak and unforgiving and brilliantly captures the barbarous nature of the scene and subject matter. Edels sparse and careful approach gives the piece an almost documentary style and no doubt this unflinching depiction, along with the graphic, perfunctory portrayal of teenage drug abuse contributed to its controversy.
Natja Brunckhorst provides the role of Chritiane and turns an astonishing debut as the heart breaking girl whose life debases to unimaginable depths within such a short space of time. Showing many audiences across Europe that the looming Heroin epidemic was not just confined to older people but also its ruthless and savage affects and how immediate its ravages take place.
This film pulls no punches. Its gritty, no nonsense representation of heroin, and its consequences, are shocking and tragic. The director also manages to take these dissolute children and allow us to view them free of judgement and witness first hand the terrible conditions in which some youths find themselves living within the confines of a so called civilised society. Many a question will arise when watching this film; how, why etc. But its principal aim is to simply allow us a front row seat to a window into a world most of us are hitherto unaccustomed - the nefarious, cruel and grievous life of a teenage addict who ambulates the inevitable path toward prostitution and ultimately burnout.
A great film with fantastic performances and above else, a great soundtrack provided by David Bowie. If you thought Trainspotting back in the late 90's was a shocking film about heroin abuse then this piece will hit you hard because despite its cult status this film is as real and as heart breaking as it gets.
A very emotional movie.
geguthrie1 March 2003
I have just finished viewing Christiane F. this morning, and I can say that I have been thinking about nothing else for the last 7 hours. This is a very powerful movie that will leave you very sad and depressed about the story of Christiane. I have been on the verge of tears all day thinking about this poor child's life.
As noted in other reviews, this is a very dark film that portrays childhood drug abuse in Berlin in the late 70's. It is not for the faint of heart, as there is death; many needle scenes, vomiting from the characters and prostitution scenes. The story is not happy and it is a downward spiral of one child's sorry life in Berlin. The only happy moment comes in the last 30 seconds of the film, as it is depressing all the way up to the end. But, this is a love story (a dark one) about Christiane and Detlev and their journey through the life of drugs as teenagers in Berlin. Even though the relationship is damned, it is still touching.
Now to the facts, the film boasts some very good teenage actors in a 14-year-old Natja Brunckhorst as Christiane and Thomas Haustein as Detlev. Both portray emotions common to the characters: lack of confidence, desperation, depression and denial very well. Both characters are very believable and you will form an emotional attachment to both. The soundtrack is all David Bowie, which really provides an excellent set of moments with the music. I was very impressed that his music could be placed so well into a movie.
The DVD version comes in the original German language version and a dubbed English version (which I saw). Now, I wish I knew German (or it had subtitles) as I would much rather have heard the original actors voices, than the 20-year-old voice that is dubbing Christiane. Regardless, the movie can still be enjoyed in this format. The DVD also comes with no frills; it's just the movie. I really think a movie of this caliber should have actor interviews, a Christiane biography, or whatever, as this film will leave you wanting more. Hopefully they address this with a future release, as well as English subtitles for the German language version.
This movie I feel is really a lot stronger than some of the other drug movies that I have seen: Drugstore Cowboy, Traffic, etc.. and I would highly recommend it over the others, as it is a very touching story about the dark side of life.
And last show it to your kids to show them the realities of drugs. Kids need to know that they can die form drugs. The only problem I have is this movie is based off of heroin, which is not a popular drug today, so it might not be as believable to teenagers. (EDIT 2017 - well 14 years later heroin is back in popularity, and killing children all over the US. This movie is would be very applicable to teenagers today)
As noted in other reviews, this is a very dark film that portrays childhood drug abuse in Berlin in the late 70's. It is not for the faint of heart, as there is death; many needle scenes, vomiting from the characters and prostitution scenes. The story is not happy and it is a downward spiral of one child's sorry life in Berlin. The only happy moment comes in the last 30 seconds of the film, as it is depressing all the way up to the end. But, this is a love story (a dark one) about Christiane and Detlev and their journey through the life of drugs as teenagers in Berlin. Even though the relationship is damned, it is still touching.
Now to the facts, the film boasts some very good teenage actors in a 14-year-old Natja Brunckhorst as Christiane and Thomas Haustein as Detlev. Both portray emotions common to the characters: lack of confidence, desperation, depression and denial very well. Both characters are very believable and you will form an emotional attachment to both. The soundtrack is all David Bowie, which really provides an excellent set of moments with the music. I was very impressed that his music could be placed so well into a movie.
The DVD version comes in the original German language version and a dubbed English version (which I saw). Now, I wish I knew German (or it had subtitles) as I would much rather have heard the original actors voices, than the 20-year-old voice that is dubbing Christiane. Regardless, the movie can still be enjoyed in this format. The DVD also comes with no frills; it's just the movie. I really think a movie of this caliber should have actor interviews, a Christiane biography, or whatever, as this film will leave you wanting more. Hopefully they address this with a future release, as well as English subtitles for the German language version.
This movie I feel is really a lot stronger than some of the other drug movies that I have seen: Drugstore Cowboy, Traffic, etc.. and I would highly recommend it over the others, as it is a very touching story about the dark side of life.
And last show it to your kids to show them the realities of drugs. Kids need to know that they can die form drugs. The only problem I have is this movie is based off of heroin, which is not a popular drug today, so it might not be as believable to teenagers. (EDIT 2017 - well 14 years later heroin is back in popularity, and killing children all over the US. This movie is would be very applicable to teenagers today)
The Image of Generation
goblingoddess29 July 2001
I've seen many films portraying drug addiction but none with such terrifying authenitcity as this film. It's funny. I haven't really thought about this film in years and what made me suddenly think of it now was I was thinking about movies on my DVD wish list. CHRISTIANE F was on that list. So for s***s and giggles I ran a routine search in the Internet Movie Database (this site is GOD!!!) and low and behold, it was out!!! Naturally, I placed my order for it. As much as I wished it was the subtitled version (which is only available in PAL), I have the German version as well as the dubbed so that's not that bad. To those who have seen REQUIEM FOR A DREAM and thought that it was the most disturbing film they've seen about drug addiction, I have news for ya: you haven't seen anything yet! CHRISTIANE F., makes REQUIEM look like a Disney film in comparison. Although the English dubbing is really cheesy and bad, still it doesn't detract from Ulrich Edel's images of the dark, seedy, and depressing world of heroin addicts.
Subtitled, "Image of a Generation", CHRISTIANE F is the true story of a lonely, bored teenager in the '70's who gets into the drug scene at 12, hooked on heroin at 13 and becomes a prostitute at 14 to support her habit. There are a couple of things about this that struck me. First, was that Edel used all unknowns for the main parts, especially the kids. They acted so naturally, that even Edel makes the comment that "it's a wonder they haven't been actors or junkies their whole lives." Also the kids who played the main characters, were as close to the age as the real people they were portraying. Nadja Brunckhorst, who plays Christiane, was fourteen at the time and does a remarkable job. In fact, this movie pretty much made her a star in Germany and to this day has had a prolific acting career, mainly on German TV as well as some film work. The second was the use of David Bowie's music in the soundtrack. Now, I'm biased. I'm a huge fan of Bowie but even if I wasn't, his music was used to staggering effect. Truly memorable was the scene toward the end of the film as Bowie's song 'Sense of Doubt' is played in the background as Edel's camera pans across the sad, ghostly faces of people at the subway platform. The music captures the despair of the scene very well, almost too well for comfort. The music serves, as any great film music should, as another character in the film, helping to portray the despair, loneliness, bravado, confusion of adolescence. I feel I can identify with Christiane and her life when I was her age. I was lonely, alienated, and sad. Where as she escaped her pain with drugs, I escaped mine through my writing. I can sympathize completely. You want to fit in with a group so badly that you'll do things that you know you shouldn't just to "be cool". Well, I really wish more teenagers would be shown this film. Would it change a life? Maybe. I do know one thing for me: after reading her book, from which this film is based, I've found a kindred soul. From what I know, she is clean and has been since the film's original release. I hope she continues to have the strength to remain so. Because once a junkie, always a junkie. "We can be heroes, just for one day."-David Bowie, 'Heroes' This song becomes a very understated theme for this film, a song about hope in a film where there's very little hope to be found.
Subtitled, "Image of a Generation", CHRISTIANE F is the true story of a lonely, bored teenager in the '70's who gets into the drug scene at 12, hooked on heroin at 13 and becomes a prostitute at 14 to support her habit. There are a couple of things about this that struck me. First, was that Edel used all unknowns for the main parts, especially the kids. They acted so naturally, that even Edel makes the comment that "it's a wonder they haven't been actors or junkies their whole lives." Also the kids who played the main characters, were as close to the age as the real people they were portraying. Nadja Brunckhorst, who plays Christiane, was fourteen at the time and does a remarkable job. In fact, this movie pretty much made her a star in Germany and to this day has had a prolific acting career, mainly on German TV as well as some film work. The second was the use of David Bowie's music in the soundtrack. Now, I'm biased. I'm a huge fan of Bowie but even if I wasn't, his music was used to staggering effect. Truly memorable was the scene toward the end of the film as Bowie's song 'Sense of Doubt' is played in the background as Edel's camera pans across the sad, ghostly faces of people at the subway platform. The music captures the despair of the scene very well, almost too well for comfort. The music serves, as any great film music should, as another character in the film, helping to portray the despair, loneliness, bravado, confusion of adolescence. I feel I can identify with Christiane and her life when I was her age. I was lonely, alienated, and sad. Where as she escaped her pain with drugs, I escaped mine through my writing. I can sympathize completely. You want to fit in with a group so badly that you'll do things that you know you shouldn't just to "be cool". Well, I really wish more teenagers would be shown this film. Would it change a life? Maybe. I do know one thing for me: after reading her book, from which this film is based, I've found a kindred soul. From what I know, she is clean and has been since the film's original release. I hope she continues to have the strength to remain so. Because once a junkie, always a junkie. "We can be heroes, just for one day."-David Bowie, 'Heroes' This song becomes a very understated theme for this film, a song about hope in a film where there's very little hope to be found.
Where Trainspotting is novelized, this is true
rodeoclown10 December 2002
If you search for a document telling you the truth about falling into drug addiction in the 70s, this is the right film for you. But this is not a mere documentary; it's got artistic value, as well as great acting by the young and cute Nadja Brunckhorst and Thomas Haupstein. The scene where Christiane, after her first heroin sniffing, gets through a long gallery in a car with her friends is a wonderful metaphore of her first step into addiction. Great locations and a beautiful, functional photography complete this very good film, which represents an isolated case in director Ulrich Edels's career.
Grim, Bleak and Essential
freemantle_uk10 July 2013
Based on a non-fiction book by Vera Christiane Felscherinow Christiane F is an example tough, hard hitting, but excellent film about drug addiction that can stand alongside the likes of Trainspotting, Requiem for a Dream and Thirteen.
Christiane (Natja Brunckhorst) is a 13-year-old girl who lives with her mother in a social housing building in West Berlin during the late 70s. Her younger sister moves out and her mother has a new boyfriend. Christiane starts to spend her Saturday evenings in a nightclub called Sound and soon befriends a group of teenagers, including Delef (Thomas Haustein) who becomes her boyfriend. She soon slides into a world of drugs, taking LSD and heroin and becomes a street prostitute when she is 14.
Christiane F. is a tough watch but director Uli Edel injects enough and Brunckhorst's performance makes the film a very compelling watch. Edel shows Berlin to be a very depressing, concert jungle that is decaying and uses dark and gritty cinematography constantly. Edel sets out to show the world as it is and we see the full efforts of heroin use and addiction as the characters physically and socially decay. Edel shows confidence with his staging, using steady camera and continuous takes to show characters, Christiane in the club or going into their drug apartment. There were two moments particularly that reminded me of Requiem for a Dream, one where Christiane is in the back of a car where she tries heroin for the first time and one in Bahnhof Zoo shot in a dream like way as we follow Christiane and has a fantastic deep piano song in the background.
Brunckhorst gave a fantastic, natural performance as we see Christiane becomes dependent on drugs. The whole cast were excellent and it is even more remarkable because many of them were non-actors in very tough roles and Christiane F. is their only acting credit. We see Christiane change physically, both with her dress and hair to losing weight and becomes more pale. There are tough but great sequence when Christiane gets high, shaking and swearing the middle of the night and the tough withdrawn sequence.
Christiane F. also has constant theme of foreshadowing of what could happen to Christiane, seeing how addict and people saying they don't want to do heroin before submitting. There are moments where addicts also try to talk people out of trying drugs in a half-hearted manner and the film aims for realistic behaviour of addicts, which was wonderfully handled.
Christiane F. also has a great soundtrack, both using David Bowie music and the score as already mention.
I have not read the book, so I cannot truly judge it as an adaption, but I would have been interesting to see how Christiane dealt with school as she became more addicted to heroin and looked more at her mother, either noticing or ignoring a change in her behaviour: even if it a quick discussion between the mum and the boyfriend and dismissing it as typical teenage rebellion.
Christiane F. is a very bleak and grim film but it is worth watching. It should be praised for its realism, actors, direction and style.
Christiane (Natja Brunckhorst) is a 13-year-old girl who lives with her mother in a social housing building in West Berlin during the late 70s. Her younger sister moves out and her mother has a new boyfriend. Christiane starts to spend her Saturday evenings in a nightclub called Sound and soon befriends a group of teenagers, including Delef (Thomas Haustein) who becomes her boyfriend. She soon slides into a world of drugs, taking LSD and heroin and becomes a street prostitute when she is 14.
Christiane F. is a tough watch but director Uli Edel injects enough and Brunckhorst's performance makes the film a very compelling watch. Edel shows Berlin to be a very depressing, concert jungle that is decaying and uses dark and gritty cinematography constantly. Edel sets out to show the world as it is and we see the full efforts of heroin use and addiction as the characters physically and socially decay. Edel shows confidence with his staging, using steady camera and continuous takes to show characters, Christiane in the club or going into their drug apartment. There were two moments particularly that reminded me of Requiem for a Dream, one where Christiane is in the back of a car where she tries heroin for the first time and one in Bahnhof Zoo shot in a dream like way as we follow Christiane and has a fantastic deep piano song in the background.
Brunckhorst gave a fantastic, natural performance as we see Christiane becomes dependent on drugs. The whole cast were excellent and it is even more remarkable because many of them were non-actors in very tough roles and Christiane F. is their only acting credit. We see Christiane change physically, both with her dress and hair to losing weight and becomes more pale. There are tough but great sequence when Christiane gets high, shaking and swearing the middle of the night and the tough withdrawn sequence.
Christiane F. also has constant theme of foreshadowing of what could happen to Christiane, seeing how addict and people saying they don't want to do heroin before submitting. There are moments where addicts also try to talk people out of trying drugs in a half-hearted manner and the film aims for realistic behaviour of addicts, which was wonderfully handled.
Christiane F. also has a great soundtrack, both using David Bowie music and the score as already mention.
I have not read the book, so I cannot truly judge it as an adaption, but I would have been interesting to see how Christiane dealt with school as she became more addicted to heroin and looked more at her mother, either noticing or ignoring a change in her behaviour: even if it a quick discussion between the mum and the boyfriend and dismissing it as typical teenage rebellion.
Christiane F. is a very bleak and grim film but it is worth watching. It should be praised for its realism, actors, direction and style.
Twenty years later
JLongo-128 November 2004
This powerful and shocking movie is an adaption from the bestselling book based on the true story of Christiane F. Having lived in Berlin until the mid 80's and being the same age as Christiane F. I can only stress the authencity of both book and movie. Berlin was a dark and depressing city at the time, yet a true metropolis with all its problems. You didn't have to be part of the "drug scene" to notice it everywhere in the downtown and surrounding area. Strung out junkies hitting you up for money in subway stations, streetwalkers, prostitutes at the Bahnhof Zoo ... the magazine article, followed by the book and movie just kind of brought it out in the open and documented the problem. The movie is still relevant 20 years later, one just have to put it a bit in perspective.
The soundtrack with David Bowie's music (newly rereleased on CD) is powerful and fits the overall mood perfect. Note: Christiane F. continued to struggle with her drug addiction until 1996 when she had her son. She lives in Berlin.
The soundtrack with David Bowie's music (newly rereleased on CD) is powerful and fits the overall mood perfect. Note: Christiane F. continued to struggle with her drug addiction until 1996 when she had her son. She lives in Berlin.
Astonishing portrait of Berlin's 70s drug scene.
patriciogl102 January 2020
This film radically captures the rawness of youngsters slipping into drugs, some so young one cannot help but to feel shocked. What is really remarkable about the narrative is that is flows so cohesively, taking its time to coherently develop its plot, which in turn is all about Christiane's spiralling down into substance abuse and how that affects and disrupts her life. The story is painful and disturbing, it is almost weakening to observe wide-eyed how youth culture can be reduced to nothing by means of dangerous substances, sometimes lethal ones like heroine.
I find David Bowie's music fascinating in this film, as it really enhances the experience, taking into account that the real story of how Christiane first became hooked was on one of his concerts in Berlin. The helplessness of some characters is rather tragic, to witness the fact that for some people there's just no going back, brings about devastating sensations.
The acting is phenomenal, which finds its way into concord along with the film's story. Everything seems so real that at times it feels as if it is not a film, but a documentary. It is probably the strongest and most realistic depiction of a drug scene and drug addicts ever put on film. Many elements were purposefully used in order to achieve that level of realism, such as many of the film's locations are the actual locations in real life. Many extras were drug addicts so they knew exactly what they were getting into, and played their parts perfectly.
It's not all about how Christiane and her friends become addicted, it's also about the consequences of their addiction, which proves to be pretty destructive, in fact is one of the most woeful aspects of the film, which is notoriously attached to its impressive authenticity.
A splendid film, one that will stay with you for a long time, a film that makes you think, reflect and question. There's not enough people to whom I would enthusiastically recommend this film, sadly there just isn't. If you like films like Trainspotting and Requiem for a Dream, one viewing of Christiane F. will make them look like the Teletubbies in comparison. No offense to those films, which are great though.
I find David Bowie's music fascinating in this film, as it really enhances the experience, taking into account that the real story of how Christiane first became hooked was on one of his concerts in Berlin. The helplessness of some characters is rather tragic, to witness the fact that for some people there's just no going back, brings about devastating sensations.
The acting is phenomenal, which finds its way into concord along with the film's story. Everything seems so real that at times it feels as if it is not a film, but a documentary. It is probably the strongest and most realistic depiction of a drug scene and drug addicts ever put on film. Many elements were purposefully used in order to achieve that level of realism, such as many of the film's locations are the actual locations in real life. Many extras were drug addicts so they knew exactly what they were getting into, and played their parts perfectly.
It's not all about how Christiane and her friends become addicted, it's also about the consequences of their addiction, which proves to be pretty destructive, in fact is one of the most woeful aspects of the film, which is notoriously attached to its impressive authenticity.
A splendid film, one that will stay with you for a long time, a film that makes you think, reflect and question. There's not enough people to whom I would enthusiastically recommend this film, sadly there just isn't. If you like films like Trainspotting and Requiem for a Dream, one viewing of Christiane F. will make them look like the Teletubbies in comparison. No offense to those films, which are great though.
Good movie, but book is really much better (as usual)
KGitt444985 September 2003
Warning: Spoilers
This is a gritty movie about the one girl's experience in the Berlin underage prostitution/drug scene of the 70's. This is no glamorized Hollywood movie with mid-twenty year old actors as teens.
This is a depressing movie, although ultimately it has a good ending, at least for Christiane.
I read the book years and years ago, and after buying the DVD a few months back, I wanted to re-read the book as it has much more detail, and more cycles of getting clean and relapsing than shown in the movie. The book is out of print (natch!), but it is worth checking out used-book stores for it.
The DVD has no extras at all, and as noted by others, no subtitles - you get it in original German, or second-rate dubbed English. I watch it both ways - German for the emotion, English for understanding.
Still, highly recommended for a change from the Hollywood usual. Much David Bowie in the soundtrack.
This is a depressing movie, although ultimately it has a good ending, at least for Christiane.
I read the book years and years ago, and after buying the DVD a few months back, I wanted to re-read the book as it has much more detail, and more cycles of getting clean and relapsing than shown in the movie. The book is out of print (natch!), but it is worth checking out used-book stores for it.
The DVD has no extras at all, and as noted by others, no subtitles - you get it in original German, or second-rate dubbed English. I watch it both ways - German for the emotion, English for understanding.
Still, highly recommended for a change from the Hollywood usual. Much David Bowie in the soundtrack.
Masterpiece!
judinazena14 September 2020
Well, let me start of with the fact that the book by the same title helped me a lot. I was not a drug user, nor have I became one ever, simply because of the book. My mom put that book in my hands when I was 12, and just told me: "Read it". She never questioned me anything in the 2 days I was reading, nor she mentioned it.
When I let her know I was done, and wanted to talk about it, she said: "Now you have to see a movie". So there I was, 12 year old who just read something that messed with her head, watching the movie with the exact story. Mom said it was important to actually see it, not only visualize it. After the movie she said: "No matter how many times and how many people tell you drugs are bad - it will not be enough. So I wanted you to see a story of a real person, who went through real problems with drugs. Does this show you that drugs are actually bad?"
Everything I ever wanted to talk to her about, just vanished. Because that movie just sealed the deal. I bought what actors were selling. Only thing on my mind was - if the book showed me with details what can happen, and the movie pictured it for me - how was it to actually battle all those things (addiction, constant thinking about next fix, crises when the drug is leaving your system...) in real life? And luckily, both the book and the movie convinced me never to put it to the test. Not even with pot, cigarettes or alcohol. I've been offered drugs many times by the time I was 20. I never once accepted, no matter how those people described it to me. Because I knew what the reality was and where it was leading to.
So, thanks to my mom, for introducing me this story. Thanks to the actors and directors and writers. Because of all of you, now I'm a 32 year old woman, who can honestly say she never tried any kind of drugs, nor was ever interested to "test the story". Words in a book and acting in movie were proof enough.
And special thanks to Christiane F. Many went through the same thing you did, but were too ashamed and embarrassed to come forward with it. You went through it and you shared your story. And I'm pretty sure you changed a lot of lives over the years. And you will keep doing that. Because, this book and movie are eternal, and will never go "out of style".
When I let her know I was done, and wanted to talk about it, she said: "Now you have to see a movie". So there I was, 12 year old who just read something that messed with her head, watching the movie with the exact story. Mom said it was important to actually see it, not only visualize it. After the movie she said: "No matter how many times and how many people tell you drugs are bad - it will not be enough. So I wanted you to see a story of a real person, who went through real problems with drugs. Does this show you that drugs are actually bad?"
Everything I ever wanted to talk to her about, just vanished. Because that movie just sealed the deal. I bought what actors were selling. Only thing on my mind was - if the book showed me with details what can happen, and the movie pictured it for me - how was it to actually battle all those things (addiction, constant thinking about next fix, crises when the drug is leaving your system...) in real life? And luckily, both the book and the movie convinced me never to put it to the test. Not even with pot, cigarettes or alcohol. I've been offered drugs many times by the time I was 20. I never once accepted, no matter how those people described it to me. Because I knew what the reality was and where it was leading to.
So, thanks to my mom, for introducing me this story. Thanks to the actors and directors and writers. Because of all of you, now I'm a 32 year old woman, who can honestly say she never tried any kind of drugs, nor was ever interested to "test the story". Words in a book and acting in movie were proof enough.
And special thanks to Christiane F. Many went through the same thing you did, but were too ashamed and embarrassed to come forward with it. You went through it and you shared your story. And I'm pretty sure you changed a lot of lives over the years. And you will keep doing that. Because, this book and movie are eternal, and will never go "out of style".
Kids ey?
kosmasp26 February 2021
This is quite the dark take on kids (teens) and drugs. But it also does not shine a particularly good light on parenting or how the state deals (dealt?) with certain individuals. When one gets addicted to drugs, they get sick. And it is really important to treat them and their sickness like that and not make or accuse them of criminal behavior. Even if that is what they resort to (like prostituting themselves to get the next fix).
Having said that, this is as already stated above quite the bleak outlook on the situation as it was and maybe still is in certain cities/areas. There has to be a drug awareness and more help. Something of course no one was really discussing in the 70s or even 80s. As society changes and we hopefully evolve and care more of each other, this will hopefully happen one day to a much bigger degree than we already have. We are on the right path I reckon (or I hope).
The performances are amazing to say the least and this looks as dirty as you probably feel watching this. Something the new adaptation of the source did not do. The new one (released 2021) goes fancy, but more on that on the show itself. Those who have seen this mostly hold it in hight regard - it feels and deals in reality. It slowly gets you into a world and you can fully understand how Christiane gets drawn into this world. And once you are in it, you can't see outside of it ... it's like with bubbles. If you are in one, it's going to be hard to escape them. Something the movie itself is able to do with the viewer too ...
Having said that, this is as already stated above quite the bleak outlook on the situation as it was and maybe still is in certain cities/areas. There has to be a drug awareness and more help. Something of course no one was really discussing in the 70s or even 80s. As society changes and we hopefully evolve and care more of each other, this will hopefully happen one day to a much bigger degree than we already have. We are on the right path I reckon (or I hope).
The performances are amazing to say the least and this looks as dirty as you probably feel watching this. Something the new adaptation of the source did not do. The new one (released 2021) goes fancy, but more on that on the show itself. Those who have seen this mostly hold it in hight regard - it feels and deals in reality. It slowly gets you into a world and you can fully understand how Christiane gets drawn into this world. And once you are in it, you can't see outside of it ... it's like with bubbles. If you are in one, it's going to be hard to escape them. Something the movie itself is able to do with the viewer too ...
Harrowing ordeal
grantss31 January 2016
A harrowing ordeal...as any good movie that explores the world of drug addiction should be. Quite graphic in its depiction of the consequences of drug addiction, and the heartbreaking, and seemingly unbreakable, bonds involved. Just when you think someone is about to break free, they get sucked back in. Very sad, and frustrating.
About as searingly graphic, if not more, as Requiem for a Dream, another excellent movie that should convince anyone who watches it to avoid the scourge that is drugs. Another movie you wouldn't want to watch too frequently, due to its gruesome honesty and the fact that the images are burned into your brain.
Excellent soundtrack from David Bowie, including live concert footage. Most of the songs are from his Heroes album, which was written and recorded in West Berlin, and conveys the feelings that living in West Berlin evoked in Bowie. Ideal soundtrack then for Christiane F, being set in West Berlin.
About as searingly graphic, if not more, as Requiem for a Dream, another excellent movie that should convince anyone who watches it to avoid the scourge that is drugs. Another movie you wouldn't want to watch too frequently, due to its gruesome honesty and the fact that the images are burned into your brain.
Excellent soundtrack from David Bowie, including live concert footage. Most of the songs are from his Heroes album, which was written and recorded in West Berlin, and conveys the feelings that living in West Berlin evoked in Bowie. Ideal soundtrack then for Christiane F, being set in West Berlin.
It's one of the best films about drugs.
prolelol9 August 2017
I just re-watched this German movie called "Christiane F." (1981), it's still one of the best and most disturbing films about drugs. Not so many people seen this movie, but it definitely deserves more viewings. It's an excellent, realistic, but also creepy and disturbing movie based on a true story. It's about a 14-years-old Christiane F. who tries some drugs and gets hooked into a downward spiral that she cannot control.
The actress who played Christiane was brilliant in her role. The cinematography is really beautiful! If you are a fan of "Requiem for a Dream" (2000), try with this one. It's way more disturbing and realistic. You all should to see this movie, it's in my top 15 of all time.
The actress who played Christiane was brilliant in her role. The cinematography is really beautiful! If you are a fan of "Requiem for a Dream" (2000), try with this one. It's way more disturbing and realistic. You all should to see this movie, it's in my top 15 of all time.
It hits like a hammer
TBJCSKCNRRQTreviews18 February 2010
I haven't read the novel, though I might look for a translated copy. This is brass from the very first line. It is immensely gripping and unpleasant. I can't understand how anyone could have caught this and thought it glamorized the environment and drug addiction. It does just the opposite, in a frank and honest manner. This is not propaganda, not for either side. The negative sides are shown well. It is somewhat reminiscent of Trainspotting, only without the sort of philosophy, and without the visual stylization. This has very realistic editing and cinematography that makes this whole thing feel completely natural, and makes it have all the more impact. It is disgusting, brutal and tough to watch. No aspect of this is flashy. This has a relatively slow pace, and the plot is focused on following Christiane and her experiences with narcotics. The effects are entirely convincing. This has amazing performances from every actor(in spite of their youth), and while the characters are arguably not that defined, they definitely undergo development over the course of this, and they are credible. Also, this actually happened. It is based upon real events. The score is great, all of it music by David Bowie. There is a lot of disturbing, at times violent, content, frequent strong language(so I understand; this is in German, and it was subtitled, not dubbed) and a little sexuality including brief nudity in this. I recommend this to anyone mature enough to appreciate it that believe they can handle it. 8/10
Sad, true and touching... a movie of young people for young people
Chaves777725 September 2006
Christiane F. is not only a movie of drug addicts, is a movie of warning, a movie of the young people for the young people. No much people appreciate movies like these; maybe because are a little unknown, but for me this a really good movie.
Christiane F. talks about the little woman Christiane; a thirteen year-old girl that loves the songs of David Bowie,when she wants to go to a party in SOUND (The disco where Christiane would have contact for the first time with the drugs) she always lies to her mother. The girl that met friends that perhaps they didn't help her. Christiane F. talks about a girl that entered to a bathroom publishes to feel the ''orgasm'' of the heroine... there it is when she realizes that she are in a big problem.
Christiane F. is a hard movie, but it is also a reflection movie, a movie for the young people, a warning for the young people.
To see the reality sometimes ends up helping us to decide better options of life... and if a movie make that things in a person... be sure that movie is good. You had my word
*Sorry me for the bad spelling
Christiane F. talks about the little woman Christiane; a thirteen year-old girl that loves the songs of David Bowie,when she wants to go to a party in SOUND (The disco where Christiane would have contact for the first time with the drugs) she always lies to her mother. The girl that met friends that perhaps they didn't help her. Christiane F. talks about a girl that entered to a bathroom publishes to feel the ''orgasm'' of the heroine... there it is when she realizes that she are in a big problem.
Christiane F. is a hard movie, but it is also a reflection movie, a movie for the young people, a warning for the young people.
To see the reality sometimes ends up helping us to decide better options of life... and if a movie make that things in a person... be sure that movie is good. You had my word
*Sorry me for the bad spelling
At the end of the movie, you will yourself feel that you are drugged!.
ramis66624 June 2009
I watched this movie out of sheer coincidence thanks to IMDb. Two days back I watched "Requiem for a Dream" and today after watching this movie, I felt "Requiem-." was a joke.
This is an open letter to Natja Brunckhorst, who has performed a role I have never ever seen on celluloid before and maybe I might not even see it in the many years to come. Surprising she didn't get an Oscar for her role.
The movie transported me to an era 30 years back and I in fact felt like one of the characters in the movie. The real fickle mindedness of teens has been shown in an extremely realistic way.
All the characters are well developed and there are many scenes in the movie which can send you tear gland's to work. The film has a mystic element in it which I have never experienced before. The soundtrack is perfect especially the music which comes to the end of the movie sends a chill through one's spine.
Watch this movie, if you like watching movies which have strong emotional content in them otherwise let it go as this master piece cannot be spoken low of.
The movies after effects are still on me and I myself feel drugged watching this movie. A perfect 10 and no other movie can be compared to this one!
Cheers!
This is an open letter to Natja Brunckhorst, who has performed a role I have never ever seen on celluloid before and maybe I might not even see it in the many years to come. Surprising she didn't get an Oscar for her role.
The movie transported me to an era 30 years back and I in fact felt like one of the characters in the movie. The real fickle mindedness of teens has been shown in an extremely realistic way.
All the characters are well developed and there are many scenes in the movie which can send you tear gland's to work. The film has a mystic element in it which I have never experienced before. The soundtrack is perfect especially the music which comes to the end of the movie sends a chill through one's spine.
Watch this movie, if you like watching movies which have strong emotional content in them otherwise let it go as this master piece cannot be spoken low of.
The movies after effects are still on me and I myself feel drugged watching this movie. A perfect 10 and no other movie can be compared to this one!
Cheers!
A bitter portrait of the drugs.
Lady_Targaryen29 September 2005
Warning: Spoilers
Christiane F. is a dark movie with a clear message: stay away from the Drug's world. I never read the book, but the movie itself does a pretty good job showing the life of a teenager girl called Christiane, who lives in Berlim and starts to be addicted to heavy drugs,even working as a prostitute to support her addiction. She sees many of her young friends dying because of the drugs,and decides to quit. But of course, it is not easy as it sounds.
What makes the movie even more shocking, is to know that it is real: It's Christiane Vera Felscherinow's autobiography in the drugs's and sex's underworld. Nowadays is becoming quite normal to see movies and books based in biographies of people or even teenagers ,who had problems with sex,drugs and violence, but this movie is a pioneer in the theme, since is from 1981.
I read that both actors who played Christiane(Natja Brunckhorst) and Detlef( Tomas Haustein) were beginners in that time, so, I think they were great,since they really look like two junkies living in a hell.
What makes the movie even more shocking, is to know that it is real: It's Christiane Vera Felscherinow's autobiography in the drugs's and sex's underworld. Nowadays is becoming quite normal to see movies and books based in biographies of people or even teenagers ,who had problems with sex,drugs and violence, but this movie is a pioneer in the theme, since is from 1981.
I read that both actors who played Christiane(Natja Brunckhorst) and Detlef( Tomas Haustein) were beginners in that time, so, I think they were great,since they really look like two junkies living in a hell.
Hard to watch but worth it
knucklebreather25 August 2012
"Christiane F." is one of the first mainstream movies about heroin addicts, and perhaps the first about very young ones. Supposedly the film was quite shocking because of the age of the characters (and actors) as well as the graphic drug use scenes. We meet Christiane F. when she is 12 and already getting into hallucinogenic drugs. Her friends are all interested in heroin and she starts is deeply addicted and prostituting herself by age 14, as is her best friend Babsi, and her boyfriend Detlev.
With the characters rapidly deteriorating before your eyes and stooping ever lower to get their "dough", this is definitely a downer of a movie, as I guess all heroin movies are, but given the ages of the characters and the stark setting of Berlin at the height of the cold war, this one is especially bleak save for a few brief moments of teenage bliss before they are all addicted to heroin, and David Bowie's performance (Bowie composed the soundtrack and performs a song, his name attached to the project quite possibly helped it be made and contributed considerably to its success).
Made in 1981, "Christiane F." clearly paved the way for "Trainspotting", but really can't match it in terms of stylized drug use scenes and really exciting scenes set to perfectly chosen pop music, despite Bowie's role in the production. Actually this movie makes "Trainspotting" look downright cheerful. It is incredibly bleak and parts are quite difficult to watch, but that is due to its emotional power. Feel-good movie this isn't, but it's absolutely worth watching. Just don't expect it to leave you in a good mood.
With the characters rapidly deteriorating before your eyes and stooping ever lower to get their "dough", this is definitely a downer of a movie, as I guess all heroin movies are, but given the ages of the characters and the stark setting of Berlin at the height of the cold war, this one is especially bleak save for a few brief moments of teenage bliss before they are all addicted to heroin, and David Bowie's performance (Bowie composed the soundtrack and performs a song, his name attached to the project quite possibly helped it be made and contributed considerably to its success).
Made in 1981, "Christiane F." clearly paved the way for "Trainspotting", but really can't match it in terms of stylized drug use scenes and really exciting scenes set to perfectly chosen pop music, despite Bowie's role in the production. Actually this movie makes "Trainspotting" look downright cheerful. It is incredibly bleak and parts are quite difficult to watch, but that is due to its emotional power. Feel-good movie this isn't, but it's absolutely worth watching. Just don't expect it to leave you in a good mood.
True insight into the original film
gem_stone168 November 2002
I recently saw the original version of this film. Although i dont speak fluent german i found it easy enough to understand the plot through the amazing actors. Its not a story that gives away the end before its time. I reccomend it to anyone of any age but be warned there are some graphic scenes which may upset some people. It has totaly put in perspective of drugs and the real nasty and harsh side. This film is not seen through rose coloured glasses. It is a true story and allows us to have a deeper insight into the desperation of addicts and the lengths and detriments they go to for the amzing feeling.
Amazing Movie
Deyth10 January 2005
Christiane F is a visceral and realistic experience that has never been duplicated in the same fashion. I watched it once over a decade ago while in my late teens and it still haunts me. I happened on this page while searching for a DVD so I can introduce my wife to what I feel is one of the greatest movies of all time, especially because it's all based on a true story. The person who put a comment suggesting this movie has no plot is hopeless; sorry there's no Schwarzenegger to wrap things up nicely and put it all into perspective. And that's why David Bowie is a legend, he obviously has vision that the commenter clearly lacks. Brilliant decision to be involved in this; insuring yet another piece of his immortality.
For those who are capable of thought and aren't afraid to be share a powerful descent into dark and dismal depths with the movie's characters, find this and watch it.
For those who are capable of thought and aren't afraid to be share a powerful descent into dark and dismal depths with the movie's characters, find this and watch it.
See also
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