When I read online that there was going to be a remake of the iconic book and movie but as a TV series I was looking forward to seeing it since both are masterpieces.
This series, despite having some good aspects to it too, was overall a bit of a letdown and the main reason was to do with the inexplicable decision to make changes and take liberties with the autobiography of Christiane F. Even though there is a disclaimer at the start of each episode saying as much it still doesn't make it right. Here are my main grievances: 1. In the book and the movie the characters are all young teens which is the main reason the story is so shocking to begin with. The actor who played Christiane in the movie was 15 I think. Here the main actor is 21 playing a 16 or 17 year old. All the other actors were way too I'd for the characters they were meant to be playing. On the other hand the actor playing the father of Christiane looked far too young and I mistook him for one of the teens. 2. It's a autobiography set in the Berlin of the 70s/early 80s. So by definition it is a period piece. But for much of the time it looks as if it is set in the present. 3. The harrowing realism of the movie has been replaced with a glamorous look that feels like any series about teens. It's S German show I believe and German TV is usually brilliant at realism but this (if I didn't know) could have fooled me in many parts as a high school or college teen drama set in any modern western city. (The only thing missing was the mobile phones). 4. Why change the name of the main make character and move interest Detlef to Benno? For those familiar with the book and the earlier movie such a move makes no sense whatsoever? Especially since we are meant to be talking of real characters not fictional ones. 5. I guess because it's funded by Amazon and they wish to eventually show it outside Germany and especially in the USA they sanitised the nudity and sexual scenes because of a fear of a potential outcry later (it's probably why I am guessing they chose adults to play young teens). In fact for much of the time this show looked like a USA teen drama. Intentionally so perhaps? 6. Why remove the fact that Christiane had a younger sister too? She was a central character in her life then and was also in the movie.
Ok these were my main criticisms but the series was good in some ways too: 1. They were able to explore a much longer portion of Christiane's life than the movie did which is more faithful to the actual autobiography. 2. The backstories of the other characters was well done too especially Stella and Babsi and Benno (Detlef). This format allowed all the characters to be developed and explored. 3. The acting and sets were generally excellent even though they looked too glam often. (I can see why this was done but I don't agree with it). 4. Cinematography was very good. 5. Soundtrack was amazing as were the clubs scenes but the music in places seemed out of time!
Overall I think it was technically good on its own as a series but it wasn't really the story of Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo and Christiane F but a generic tale based very loosely on her book. I think they could have reflected that by choosing a different title.
This series, despite having some good aspects to it too, was overall a bit of a letdown and the main reason was to do with the inexplicable decision to make changes and take liberties with the autobiography of Christiane F. Even though there is a disclaimer at the start of each episode saying as much it still doesn't make it right. Here are my main grievances: 1. In the book and the movie the characters are all young teens which is the main reason the story is so shocking to begin with. The actor who played Christiane in the movie was 15 I think. Here the main actor is 21 playing a 16 or 17 year old. All the other actors were way too I'd for the characters they were meant to be playing. On the other hand the actor playing the father of Christiane looked far too young and I mistook him for one of the teens. 2. It's a autobiography set in the Berlin of the 70s/early 80s. So by definition it is a period piece. But for much of the time it looks as if it is set in the present. 3. The harrowing realism of the movie has been replaced with a glamorous look that feels like any series about teens. It's S German show I believe and German TV is usually brilliant at realism but this (if I didn't know) could have fooled me in many parts as a high school or college teen drama set in any modern western city. (The only thing missing was the mobile phones). 4. Why change the name of the main make character and move interest Detlef to Benno? For those familiar with the book and the earlier movie such a move makes no sense whatsoever? Especially since we are meant to be talking of real characters not fictional ones. 5. I guess because it's funded by Amazon and they wish to eventually show it outside Germany and especially in the USA they sanitised the nudity and sexual scenes because of a fear of a potential outcry later (it's probably why I am guessing they chose adults to play young teens). In fact for much of the time this show looked like a USA teen drama. Intentionally so perhaps? 6. Why remove the fact that Christiane had a younger sister too? She was a central character in her life then and was also in the movie.
Ok these were my main criticisms but the series was good in some ways too: 1. They were able to explore a much longer portion of Christiane's life than the movie did which is more faithful to the actual autobiography. 2. The backstories of the other characters was well done too especially Stella and Babsi and Benno (Detlef). This format allowed all the characters to be developed and explored. 3. The acting and sets were generally excellent even though they looked too glam often. (I can see why this was done but I don't agree with it). 4. Cinematography was very good. 5. Soundtrack was amazing as were the clubs scenes but the music in places seemed out of time!
Overall I think it was technically good on its own as a series but it wasn't really the story of Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo and Christiane F but a generic tale based very loosely on her book. I think they could have reflected that by choosing a different title.
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