Berlin Calling

1. What do drugs mean to Ickarus?

       For Ickarus, drugs are a means of relaxation. They help gain a sense of freedom from stress and responsibilities.

2. Why, when, and how are his fans taking drugs, and which drugs do they take?

       His fans take drugs during the concerts and when they go to clubs and hear his music to heighten the experience. This way they can 'feel' the music as well as hear it. His fans are either taking pills or snorting the various drugs they ingest. They are typically using MDMA, Cocaine, Ketamine, Extacy, and various other amphetamines.

3. While we can see that his drug habits get him ill and into a psychosis, and while we witness his relapse and inability to work successfully, why does the subculture Ickarus is in focus on drugs?

     They may feel that in order to enjoy themselves and the music fully, they must be on some sort of drug. The subculture that they have involved themselves into revolves around drugs and drug use. It becomes increasingly difficult to stop this drug use due to the dependence on the drug itself as well as their involvement with the people and the friends they make while on the drugs. They become both chemically and emotionally dependent. 

4. Compare the standards you know from your home society with the people you see depicted in this movie. Which are the stark differences and contrasts?

      There is definitely partying and drug use in our culture, as well as sexual activity. Though, here it is not as obvious or shown. Sex and drug use seems to be more private here than it is in Europe. The drug scene in clubs is more open in Europe than it is here. We are also not as open with our own sexual experience here as in Europe.

5. Germany is considered a strong industrial nation the world over. Do you think that the youth culture as depicted here could change that? How about work ethics of Ickarus and of Alice, the label director who fires and then re-signs him?

     The lifestyle that they have are not helpful to Germany's Industrial Economy. They would rather do drugs than work. Alice does seem to have a stronger work ethic, sense of responsibility and will power than Ickarus does. 

6. Which similar "cult movies" of US origin have you seen, if any?

     I cannot think of any "cult movies" from the US that I have seen. 

I enjoyed watching Berlin Calling because I am a music fan. The movie does seem to focus on drugs and the party scene but that was not the focal point. Ickarus's variable states made the movie more entertaining because of his unpredictability due to his drug usage. One thing that was striking to me was that, although he was dedicated to his work, it seemed as though drug use was a part of that. It was where he got his most creative but they were also so destructive to him as well.

The major cultural differences that I noticed was the openness to drug use and sex in public spaces. Though this may be more prevalent in larger cities, I personally have not seen it done publicly like it was depicted here. The main characters in this movie seemed to be what may be called sensation seekers. That is, they don't feel they are truly alive unless they have their adrenaline pumping or some sort of drug in their system. It seems as though in the US these people find their needs as sensation seekers met through base jumping or some other thrilling activity, not through drug use. Yes, drugs are used very widely in America, just as they are in Europe. The stark contrast is that it seems that the drug use is less public and done more privately. 

Overall I enjoyed this movie and, if not for the subtitles, would probably watch it again. Generally speaking when I am watching a movie, I don't want to be reading as well. It takes away from the full effect of what the movie truly is showing.