Berlin Blues

"Till then, then…"

2003 1h 45m DE

👍

6.8

SOLID

★6.8TMDB · 131

ComedyDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

In October 1989, the part of the West Berlin borough of Kreuzberg called SO 36, had been largely shut off by the Wall from the rest of the city for 28 years. A lethargic sub-culture of students, artists, bohemians and barflys had flourished among crumbling buildings. Part of that microcosm is barkeeper Frank, semi-formally called 'Herr Lehmann' by friends and patrons. He hangs out drinking, sports utter disregard for anything beyond SO 36 and lazily pursues an affair with cook Katrin. His lifestyle is gradually disturbed, when his parents show up for a visit, things go awry with Katrin and his best friend Karl starts to act strange. Meanwhile, political turmoil mounts on the other side of the Wall.

“Till then, then…”

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Cast

Christian Ulmen
Herr Lehmann
Katja Danowski
Katrin, die schöne Köchin
Detlev Buck
Der beste Freund Karl
Janek Rieke
Kristall-Rainer
Uwe Dag Berlin
Jürgen
Martin Olbertz
Marco
Hartmut Lange
Erwin
Margit Bendokat
Lehmanns Mutter

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Leander Haußmann
Writers: Sven Regener
Languages: German
Countries: Germany

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

ERA

Did you know

Released 23 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

CINEMA

Did you know

Part of the "Berlin Blues Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Leander Haußmann, shot by Frank Griebe. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Peter R. Adam shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Christian Ulmen and Katja Danowski and Detlev Buck carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Till then, then…".

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0322545 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Leander Haußmann directs. Frank Griebe behind the camera. Peter R. Adam cuts. Produced in Germany. Dialogue in German.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 23 years ago.
2Part of the "Berlin Blues Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
3Directed by Leander Haußmann, shot by Frank Griebe. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Editor Peter R. Adam shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Christian Ulmen and Katja Danowski and Detlev Buck carry the top of the cast.
6Marketing tagline: "Till then, then…".
7IMDB entry: tt0322545 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: Frank Griebe
Editing: Peter R. Adam
Production design: Thomas Stammer
Costume design: Nina von Mechow
Makeup / hair: Heike Merker
Sound: Erik Mischijew
Runtime: 105 min · 1h 45m
Status: Released
Original language: DE
IMDB: Berlin Blues (2003)

Part of

Berlin Blues Collection

These films focus on young males navigating transitional periods in their lives within contrasting environments. The first film depicts a character in an isolated, decaying neighborhood who reconsiders his passive existence due to external changes, challenging him to venture beyond his comfort zone. The second film follows a character navigating intense environments, struggling to fit in, and dealing with a fragmented sense of belonging. Both films explore themes of societal malaise, personal stagnation, and the role of external factors in challenging personal status quos. The first film concludes optimistically, with the protagonist seizing new opportunities and embracing personal growth. In contrast, the second film ends somberly, with the protagonist resigning to fate, highlighting that overcoming challenges may not always lead to personal transformation.