Christiane F. - Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo (1981)

Director:

Uli Edel

Writers:

Uli Edel (additional writer)
Kai Hermann (book)

Release Date:

2 April 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Tagline:

At 12 it was Angel Dust. At 13 it was heroin. Then she took to the streets.

Plot:

This movie portrays the drug scene in Berlin in the 70s, following tape recordings of Christiane F....

Plot Keywords:

Subculture | Female Nudity | Rock Club | Shot | Rock Concert

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Natja Brunckhorst	...	Christiane
Thomas Haustein	...	Detlev
Jens Kuphal	...	Axel
Rainer Woelk	...	Leiche (as Rainer Wölk)
Jan Georg Effler	...	Bernd
Christiane Reichelt	...	Babsi
Daniela Jaeger	...	Kessi
Kerstin Richter	...	Stella
David Bowie	...	Himself
Eberhard Auriga	...	Alter Fixer
Peggy Bussieck	...	Puppi
Lothar Chamski	...	Rolf
Uwe Diderich	...	Klaus
Ellen Esser	...	Kessis Mutter
Andreas Fuhrmann	...	Atze

Also Known As:

Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo, Die (West Germany) (working title)
We Children from Bahnhof Zoo (USA)
Zoo (International: English title)

Runtime:

138 min | Australia:131 min (English dubbed version)

Country:

West Germany

Language:

German

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Finland:K-16 (cut) (1981) | Iceland:16 | Norway:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:16 | Australia:R

Filming Locations:

Bahnhof Zoologischer Garten, Berlin, Germany

Company:

Solaris Film

Goofs:

Factual errors: Christiane F. plays the David Bowie album, "ChangesOneBowie," in her room. But the song that is heard -- the German version of "Heroes" ("Helden") -- is not on that particular record.

Movie Connections:

Features Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens (1922)

Soundtrack:

TVC15

Twenty years later

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.