Christiane F

My girlfriend’s told me about the book many times before. But as soon as we went to Berlin and she told me about the individual places where all sorts of horrors happened, I thought that it’s about time I at least saw the movie if I wasn’t going to read the book. And so, I watched the movie depicting those times. I didn’t understand them and I didn’t even want to. In any case, I don’t think that Berlin has changed significantly since then. I still view it as a multicultural, young city nowadays, one that is an imprint of the past at the same time. So, it’s rather depressing and sad – just like this movie. (15.11.2013)

Practically every economically developed country has experienced a smaller or larger epidemic of drug addiction, as well as a wave of reflection on the drug scene through the artistic sphere. In the conservative bourgeois environment of Germany in the 1970s, child drug addiction and prostitution were social taboos, and when two reporters attempted to publish extensive material in the form of a shocking open confession of a young prostitute, they faced harsh opposition and could not find a publisher. However, when they finally managed to publish the book, it became an incredible bestseller that influenced the social atmosphere and turned Christiane into an instant celebrity. Her literary confession ends hopefully with her departure to live with her grandmother in the countryside, away from drug-infested Berlin. However, her subsequent life was evidence of the saying that once a junkie, always a junkie, in the better case one who is currently abstaining. Christiane was an uncontrollable fireball. The creation of the film was inevitable, and fortunately, it received so much attention in its production that there was no major disappointment. The cast corresponds to the ideas I had formed about the book's characters. The film relies on the power of visuals, lacking the depiction of Christiane's thoughts and mental processes, which could have been resolved through the protagonist's inner voice. Of course, the film cannot encompass all the situations known from the book, but it accurately captures the important elements. We Children from Bahnhof Zoo is one of the most significant and tragic drug stories of the 20th century. Overall impression: 90%. (17.10.2013)

The infamous work of producer Bernd Eichinger joined the wave of fascination with the story of the teenage drug addict Christiane F. It is remembered, among other things, as a record of a certain atmosphere and time, not forgetting the involvement of David Bowie. However, if you perceive the mishaps depicted through the lens of an adult, you see a naive kid running around the estate with a plastic bag in his hand, taking drugs, and getting involved in prostitution just to please her first boyfriend. She lives in a social bubble where there are no boundaries and no punishments. Occasionally a slap comes in the form of the death of a friend or acquaintance, but the family is inert, practically non-existent, and the state does not care or worry about anything. Stealing and taking drugs is easy, withdrawal is survivable, and the illusion of "I've got it under control" goes merrily on. The film's message is questionable, and the very reaction of those who glorified the film and the book as teenagers is reprehensible. Escaping the woes of adolescence has never been easy, but at the same time, there have never been so many other ways to cope. (29.03.2021)

A terribly depressing experience that only needs to be seen once in a lifetime. The fate of a young girl in the clutches of drug addiction is depicted with such chilling literalness that some scenes will be etched in my mind for a very long time. The dirty Berlin nights with David Bowie's music, toilets full of drug addicts and the strongest depiction of withdrawal symptoms ever filmed – if there’s anything positive about this film, apart from the good direction, it’s definitely the performance of Natja Brunckhorst, which is incredible considering her age. On the other hand, smearing honey around your mouth would hardly be a faithful representation of the conditions of the time; this was really the only correct way – albeit a very unpleasant one. 80% (02.07.2013)

An incredibly raw film that will definitely not make you sleep well. I had heard about the film a long time ago, but the title evoked something for children. No, this is not for kids, but it's quite good for parents to see how their child can also enjoy it. It is quite sad that after more than thirty years the film is still extremely relevant. (10.04.2017)