Berlin in Berlin (1993) User Reviews

Unassuming production, yet Creative directing

[CihanVercan · 7/10 · 24 January 2009]

With its indelible impression first made, Berlin in Berlin had caused international repercussions at its time; underlining Sinan Cetin's behind the camera and Hulya Avsar's screen performances.

Cetin offers a creative vision in directing a very usual plot forming a high-tensioned suspenser. Bravely he dishes out very pretentious scenes. On the other hand, in order to conduct the screenplay instead of using a responsive script; he chooses to benefit by populist ingredients. Clemens-Maria Haas's strong music score holds the tension of the film at the top from opening to the ending, even though there are unnecessarily long scenes.

The storyline is very basic and simple. There are only three location sets: Construction building, a street from Berlin's Turkish quarter and the apartment. This might be boring, but at the same time it builds strong focus. Berlin in Berlin is an unassuming production. Don't expect any splendor, or even an average cinematography. All the actors perform very well. Absolutely worth watching.

Intriguing Film

[dgottli-73666 · 7/10 · 31 October 2016]

Taking a hostage is usually seen as an act of terror and is one of the worst things that could happen to most people. However, at least one instance exists where being a hostage is a blessing rather than a curse. "Berlin in Berlin" directed by Sinan Cetin sets up a dynamic where a man is thankful to be a prisoner because his other option is death. When a German construction worker named Thomas (Armin Block) sees a beautiful Turkish woman named Dilber (Hulya Avsar) he starts taking pictures of her without her knowledge. The woman's husband finds out and confronts her which leads to a fight between the husband and Thomas. The husband dies in the fight and Thomas runs away from the wife's brothers lead by Muertuez (Cem Ozer), and accidentally runs into the family's home. Muertez wants to kill Thomas but the parents insist on letting him life as long as he stays under their supervision. Cetin creates moments of stress using prolonged shots, intense music, and shaking cameras. A key turning point in the film is when a man breaks into the home because Muertez is sleeping with his girlfriend. The man attacks Muertez with a knife and Thoman saves him. This scene is a major turning point in the relationship between Thomas and the family from mistrust and hatred to equality and acceptance. Overall this film captivated the audience and was exciting from start to finish. It was rare to be bored with what was going on in the film. I recommend this film to people who enjoy plots based on drama and action.

Simple but Ahead of its Time

[ssandoli · 7/10 · 30 October 2016]

Since its premiere, "Berlin in Berlin" has sent sound waves throughout the transnational cinema culture. One can still see the repercussions it has on the German and Turkish film industry today. The film director, Sinan Çetin, was the first person to create a film that switched the roles of having an ethnic Turk feeling out of place within Germany and an ethnic German fitting in with society. This role reversal can also be seen as the first film and the beginning of the second phase of Turkish German Cinema, the "pleasures of hybridity" phase. This film follows a young ethnic male German who falls in love with a Turkish colleague's wife, and by unforeseen circumstances, is forced to live and hide out in her home with the rest of her ethnic Turkish family. The film makes use of the cinematic gaze right out of the gates, with the first scene filled with stares between audience and character, and character and character. Although there are only three different sets to the film, this allows the viewer to focus more on the plot and how what is happening is affecting everyone involved. "Berlin in Berlin" is a suspenseful piece, with very sound acting and a simple but innovative story-line. Recommended that everyone should watch this film to understand the transition of filming throughout Turkish German Cinema history.

A Hidden Gem

[lyonsj96 · 6/10 · 24 October 2016]

"Berlin in Berlin" is a film that watches you. It follows the story of an obsessive protagonist who loves to look and when he eventually looks too hard he sees himself into mortal danger. He stalks the beautiful wife of a Turkish Migrant Worker into her own, and her violent brothers, Berlin apartment where a valuable lesson about personal space awaits him. It all works to call into question the nature of looking and how we look at our fellow man, no matter the social barrier. If you can ignore some dated sequences and awkward performances this film will surprise you with its inventive shots and genuine characters. Overall this film is a must see, but don't touch.

Unrealistic script, Continuous focus problems

[yardibi · 3/10 · 3 May 2022]

Many of the scenes are unrealistic. There are many islamic items are shown at home and conservative parents but they are so flexible to copulation activities in the middle of the house which is unrealistic. Picture and sound quality are poor. Significant number of unfocused frames. Looks like it was taken by toaster. Producers tried to increase the popularty by putting a masturbation scene but it does not help to survive the overall quality.

GTC Film Review

[sebastianardaix · 25 October 2016]

It all started over a beautiful woman. The entire beginning of "Berlin in Berlin" shows a man having an irresistible attraction to a married woman and begins to follow her around his work place. Sinan Cetin, the film's producer and director, does a great job in the beginning showing the man's attraction to the woman when he begins to take pictures of the woman secretly. Each camera shot is filmed in a certain angle that expresses a sort of distance the man is having yet still close enough to keep his eye on her. The issue arises when the man prints the pictures and has them lying around in the work place. Years later, the man played by Cem Ozer, still has an obsessive attraction to that woman and wishes to find her in hopes of getting her forgiveness. Through many unfortunate wrong turns, he ends up taking cover in a stranger's home; only to find out that he is staying in the home of the man that he killed years ago. The film brings out many cultural aspects throughout the movie. The man is eventually spotted within the household by everyone is about to be killed, however everyone is stopped by the grandmother and father. Traditions are a big part of their life and since the man was considered a guest in the house, he was given the ability to live due to their customs. The man continues to figure a way out without getting shot but knows once he is out the door, so are the traditions that is keeping him safe. This creates a great plot for the story because of the development of relationships that you see within the household and the actions that the man take sin order to escape. This movie revolves around Turkish culture and how its influence can keep people from acting a certain way. The ending had a twist because even once the man is out the front door, caught by the dead man's brother and is stood up on gun point just . Although the movie only had a few scenes, its production of scenes demonstrating the Turkish culture made the movie become easier to understand and therefore made it more interesting, it is a must see.

Terrible

[yumurtasitasta · 1/10 · 19 October 2019]

Terrible second movie I've ever seen. First one Cumali Ceber.

Berlin in Berlin

[yson-43030 · 8/10 · 24 October 2016]

The film "Berlin in Berlin" is a German Turkish cinema directed by Sinan Cetin. It was first released in 1993, and in same year it was entered into the 18th Moscow International Film Festival. The actress in this film, Hulya Avsar won the Best Actress award at the festival.

The summary of this film is that a young German man stalks a Turkish married woman and he accidentally kills her husband while trying to stop their fight. Later he bumps into victim husband's brothers and ran into a random house to hide. However, that place was a house of the husband's family, including the married women he stalked.

Although 'Berlin in Berlin' is not widely known or a blockbuster film, considering that this movie was filmed in 1993, I thought it has impressive story plot and setting. There are not many fancy sequences but it reveals a certain culture, specifically the Turkish, by an ironic setting of the film. It is better to watch this film knowing that Turkey has a tradition of welcoming guest, whoever that person is, even the enemies. In this film, although the young German man was a murder of their brother or son, the family starts to communicate with him and somehow respect him as time goes by. It was interesting to see how the two cultures meet and how the characters start to know and understand each other.