The Movie Chasing Paper Birds premieres on the 17th of September and is going to trigger a nostalgic feeling in many of us. It is a film that gives a raw and beautiful insight into Berlin’s soul in the decade of the 2010s, with the focus on Friedrichshain and all the different characters that made this Kiez so special.
As a former director of music videos and image films, Mariana Jukica has made it possible to perceive Berlin’s spirit and captured every spark. She awakens memories of a lived madness, in a time before touristy hooligans took over the city.
The movie is narrated from three perspectives. Mia, Keks and Ian, who are in their late twenties to early thirties, are all on the run from reality and on the hunt for their own personal happiness.
Read on…
by Guest Author | Movies
photo: ©SYFY.
After Netflix, Amazon Prime and TNT, another American TV channel/streamer is dipping their toes into the German original market. With Spides, the German branch of SYFY is releasing its first original German show. The story that is based in Berlin’s nightlife brings a contemporary twist into the classic Bodysnatcher plot. By way of a modern party drug called Blis that you consume over your eyes, an Alien organism is infiltrating young ravers and erasing their minds. Sounds like a regular night out at Berghain if you ask me…
Read on…
by Frank | TV
artist: Sean Norvet.
Even if you don’t agree with any form of drug use, there is a controlled or more healthy way to consume many substances, and there are many different reasons why people seek that respective substance. Knowing and reflecting on these different forms of how and reasons, why people are looking for their high, can prevent a lot of misunderstandings and stigmas in our everyday life. In light of the Altered Conference, held in Berlin for the first time in 2017, with workshops, talks and rituals on the subject of psychedelics, conscious drug practices, and the social issues that come along with it, we thought about different approaches to substance use that exist here. After all, it’s not as easy as You take drugs, so you’re a total wreck! In collaboration with the Altered team, we put together a list of 5 different scenes and motivations that are significant in Berlin.
Read on…
by Andy | Stories
photo: Ricardo Mancía
People do drugs in Berlin, and not just a few to be honest. Drugs, drugs, drugs… I could easily dive into the discourse now, stressing the risks, debating labels like legal and illegal. And, paint dreadful pictures of needles, white powder, pills… But, let’s just focus on the fact that people DO it, and not just in nightclubs since the early 80’s, people have been using substances to change their state of mind since the beginning of time. Even if it’s just these four glasses of wine on a Friday night or that good old nicotine shock, still, we’re using a drug.
People could just sit together and have a cup of tea, right? But, they don’t. Where human logic comes to a sudden end, there must be some ‘higher’ need. But, why is it that people in Berlin appear to desire this change of mindset so much, more than in other cities? When people come staggering my way out of overcrowded bars at Oranienstraße, when I take in the scent of burning rolled-up leaves, walking past Görlitzerpark, and staring eyes with big, round pupils pass by at Ostbahnhof, I can’t help but ask myself: If you all need to alter your consciousness in Berlin, is there something wrong with Berlin?
Read on…
by Andy | Stories
photos: Frailfail
Part of my answer to ‘what draws you to Berlin?’ is it being this exciting metropolis where all cultures mix and interact. Life here changes from one minute to the other, making each day a unique experience that keeps me on edge, as I try to be part of everything the city offers.
This lifestyle, however, doesn’t only have a positive side to it. This constant business and change can be overwhelming and stressful, turning the fairy tale into a nightmare. In big cities like Berlin, where the levels of excitement, challenges, temptations are always on max, it should be our primary concern that we keep ourselves safe, maintaining our peace no matter what; ‘When we love ourselves we can love others’, and other Eat Pray Love cliches, in this case stand surprisingly true. There is absolutely no shame in getting help, us is all we got, so our well being should come before any fear of mom, friend, employer being judgmental. Sometimes it’s little things we need to do to decompress, like jogging, meditating, knitting, whatever works. Other times though, balance is a bit harder to find: Instead of ignoring the signs or avoiding it, we owe ourselves to reach out to a professional helping hand, and Berlin gives us quite a few options to help us get back on track.
Read on…
by Stella | Stories
Whenever I speak with people who tell me about their plan to move to Berlin I always listen to their stories patiently before sharing my enthusiasm about the city that will make them want to come here even more. But very often I also give them some cautionary advice about the city. We all know the stories how easy it is to get lost here. It’s a feel-good-place with many possibilities to have fun and get distracted from what you actually came here for. And before you know it you start subletting your WG-Zimmer to tourists, crash at your friends’ places and spend your rent money every weekend on drinks, drugs and club entrances. Your German classes, internship applications and uni enrollment will be quickly forgotten. Berlin is such a temptress in that way.
For me this whole concept of getting lost in the Berlin is perfectly captured in the new video by Rangleklods. You see a lot of the mentioned Berlin lifestyle in it and it’s obvious how it’s on the one side very cool, tempting and sexy, but on the other side also a little destructive and dangerous. The man behind the band started out a few years back here in Berlin but has since then relocated to his home country in Denmark and added another vocalist to the team. Maybe the video to “Lost U” is a little homage to his time in Berlin? I’m only guessing… Enjoy the video after the jump.
Read on…
by Frank | Music, Videos
Westbam – this name is normally associated with the Love Parade, the 90s, Mayday and strange raver outfits. However, one should not forget that Westbam was one of the most important pioneers in Techno music, not only in Germany, but globally. Now, the Berlin-based DJ celebrates his 30th anniversary on stage with a new album, which features collaborations with artists such Iggy Pop, Kayne West and Lil Wayne. It took me by surprise that the first single You need the drugs turned out that great. The video is also really worth seeing; it consists of pictures from West Berlin’s underground night life in the 70s and 80s. More after the jump.
Read on…
by Jens | Music, Videos
