Berlin Alexanderplatz

As Francis gets washed up on the shores of Southern Europe, he swears an oath to God: From now on he wants to be a new, a better, a decent man. Soon after Francis finds himself in Berlin, where he realizes how hard it is to be righteous when you are an illegal refugee in Germany – without papers, without nation and without a work permit. When he receives an enticing offer from the charismatic German, Reinhold, to earn easy money, Francis initially resists the temptation, maintains his oath and stays away from Reinhold’s shady dealings. But eventually he is sucked into Berlin’s underworld and his life spirals out of control. A boundary-pushing vision of the classic novel by Alfred Döblin.

Winner of four 2020 German Film Awards, including Best Supporting Actor Albrecht Schuch and Best Cinematography by Yoshi Heimrath. Winner of the 2020 Stockholm Film Festival Bronze Horse Best Film and the Aluminum Horse Best Actor for Welket Bungué.

A Kino Lorber release

Watch the special Q&A with Director Burhan Qurbani, in conversation with Film Curator and Critic Katarina Hedrén.

Part of the Berlin & Beyond Autumn Showcase 2021