The film was based on christiane felscherinows autobiography, wir kinder vom. Wir kinder vom bahnhof zoo is a soundtrack album by david bowie, released on. We children from bahnhof zoo in english is a 1981 german film based on the autobiographical recordings of a young heroin addict and prostitute in west berlin. The film is based on the book wir kinder vom bahnhof zoo, and features harrowing scenes of life as a young drug addict in west berlin. Her descent to heroin addiction and prostitution on the streets of west berlin. The american issue of the book was released by bantam in 1982 under the title christiane f autobiography of a girl of the streets and heroin addict and was translated by susanne flatauer isbn 0553208977. Wir kinder vom bahnhof zoo is a 1981 german biographical drama film directed by uli edel that portrays the drug scene in west berlin in the 1970s, based on the 1978 nonfiction book wir kinder vom bahnhof zoo we children from zoo station, transcribed and edited from tape recordings by kai hermann and horst rieck. Dec 18, 2018 natja brunckhorst does a great job as christiane f. Christopher isherwood was an obvious influence on his socalled berlin period. The book caused a stir in germany and was translated in many languages, even made into a 1982 movie, featuring the music of david bowie. Somewhere in the middle of the west german christiane f is a generous chunk of concert footage featuring david bowie. The concert scene was filmed in october 1980 at new yorks hurrah club, which was redressed to resemble a berlin nightclub bowie was appearing nightly on broadway at the time so director ulrich edel had to shoot the sequence in new york. Ideal soundtrack then for christiane f, being set in west berlin. The cd is released on 29 june via parlophone, as are exclusive vinyl bricks and mortar reissues for retail stores of.
Her story was compiled by two journalists who met her when she testified in a court case, who dubbed her as christiane f. Christiane vera felscherinow born 20 may 1962 is a german actress and musician who is best known for her contribution to the 1978 autobiographical book wir kinder vom bahnhof zoo we children of bahnhof zoo, and the film based on the book, in which her teenage drug use is documented. As we were discussing bowies music in movies, someone mentioned a film i had never heard of christiane f. This might be due to the storys publication history. After a david bowie concert, christiane tries heroin for the first time. Jan 16, 2016 as we were discussing bowies music in movies, someone mentioned a film i had never heard of christiane f. This might have been the highlight of this dreary film, except for the fact that bowie seems to be as bummed out as everyone else in the cast. Excellent soundtrack from david bowie, including live concert footage.
A tribute to david bowie hauptstrasse the berlin years 1976 1978. It was one of the most successful german films of that year, going on to become a worldwide cult hit, but one that stirred up a lot of i think justifiable controversy. This allbowie soundtrack to a docudrama about a teenage heroin addict also works as a pretty nifty overview of the artists late1970s experimental period. It is my impression there is a stronger awareness of the exploitative aspects of the christiane f. There are some that refer to its film adaption christiane f.
Its a german film about a teen growing up in a bleak part of west berlin in the mid70s who falls in with a drug crowd and eventually becomes a heroin addict. At a david bowie concert, she meets babsi christiane reichelt, who turns her on to heroin. Christiane f trailer 1981 david bowie news celebrating the. The turning point in christianes life seems to be a david bowie concert, which she watches raptly from frontrow center. David bowie performs station to station live in the amazing concert scene from the 1981 film christiane f. In the mid1970s, when the events of the book unfolded, the music bowie released on his albums young americans and station to station was at its most glamorously alienated robotic funk, chilly philly soul and the beginnings of bowies. Nov 29, 2016 the film is based on the book wir kinder vom bahnhof zoo, and features harrowing scenes of life as a young drug addict in west berlin. The participation of david bowie and his great music is vital for the. Berlin was a dark and depressing city at the time, yet a true metropolis with all its problems. David bowie appears in the film, when the 12yearold christiane sneaks out to see him in concert. With your silicone hump and your teninch baal dont forget exclusive strictly bricks and mortar only, vinyl reissues for retail stores today, including christiane f. Nearly all the songs on the films soundtrack were written or cowritten by bowie.
If there is one book and movie that should be in the curriculum of every secondary school it is christiane f. The german title of the film, wir kinder vom bahnhof zoo, means we children of zoo station, referring to the railway station in berlin, germany. Sad to see posts suggesting that lindsay kemp has died. Detlefs first fix, the car scenes after the bowie concert, babs in the bathtub come to mind. A longside the supremely wellread bob dylan, david bowie was probably popular musics most bookish star. Wir kinder vom bahnhof zoo is a 1981 german film in which david bowie appears in a concert during the film and provides the soundtrack. The film shows christianes descent into heroin addiction and prostitution in startling detail. This movie is based on the nonfiction book christiane f. Christiane f is a 1981 german biographical drama film directed by uli edel that portrays the drug scene in west berlin in the 1970s, based on the 1978 nonfiction book wir kinder vom bahnhof zoo we children from zoo station. I remember having long conversations about music wi. David bowie, christianes favourite singer at the time of the interviews that informed the book, appears as himself in a concert. Christiane f is a true story, based on an autobiography entitled christiane f. In the book, christiane tells of her fondness for bowies music and how excited she was to see him perform in concert.
David bowie makes an appearance in the film, and compositions from several of his albums are used as the films soundtrack. David bowie official store shop david bowie merchandise. Christiane f a 1981 film adaptation of the autobiographical nonfiction book by christiane f. Shop online for david bowie merchandise, apparel, tshirts, hoodies, hats, bags, drinkware, accessories, and music. It tries to illustrate a divulgative and creative text about the movie. Having lived in berlin until the mid 80s and being the same age as christiane f.
I can only stress the authencity of both book and movie. I can imagine that some things would make more sense, if i read read the book what the f was christianes sister doing in the film, but as a standalone film this is quite terrible. Wir kinder vom bahnhof zoo is a 1981 german film directed by uli edel that portrays the drug scene in west berlin in the 1970s, based on the nonfiction book of the same name written following tape recordings of teenage girl christiane f. Bowie provided the soundtrack for the movie and also appears in the film.
The bowiesoundtracked teen drug film that inspired raf. Denis remembers that christiane joined the bowie entourage for the. Wir kinder vom bahnhof zoo on red vinyl and a 10 trifold sleeve of david bowie in bertolt brechts baal. I brought a tape of hers with me during a promo tour for the film in the us.
David bowie, who appears in concert in the movie, provided the soundtrack. In the annals of just say no cinema this 1981 film is unquestionably one of the most powerful entries. The movie has become notorious in europe, where both the film and book versions of christianes adventures have been best sellers. Its the kinetic, harrowing, and stillshocking true story of christiane f. Wir kinder david bowie on allmusic 1982 a mid70s west german film about a 14 year olds. The film and the nonfiction book it is based on both acquired cult status bowies soundtrack. This powerful and shocking movie is an adaption from the bestselling book based on the true story of christiane f. David bowie original soundtrack zum film christiane f. She also falls in love with detlev thomas haustein, who turns her on to petty crime and hustling to feed their mutual habits. Not quite a biography, it takes bowies life song by song, in alphabetical order. Christiane f wir kinder vom bahnhoff z by david bowie on. The participation of david bowie and his great music is vital for the movie and it gives a great lift to the storyline. All songs written by david bowie except heroeshelden written by bowieenomaas, boys keep swinging and look back in anger, both written by bowieeno.
The one bowie book you need to read and two you dont. Mar 19, 1982 the turning point in christianes life seems to be a david bowie concert, which she watches raptly from frontrow center. Today, christiane is still alive, but not in good health. The premiere collaboration between director ulrichor uliedel. He spares no detail, and manages to create a grimly depressing, and extremely dark story about the world of junkies unlike any film ever has before. The movie immediately acquired cult status which it still retains today and features david bowie as both himself and the soundtrack.
Aug 12, 2017 a longside the supremely wellread bob dylan, david bowie was probably popular musics most bookish star. Jul 25, 2010 david bowie performs station to station live in the amazing concert scene from the 1981 film christiane f. The complete david bowie, by nicholas pegg 2011 peggs book is a little different. His involvement with the picture helped its awareness and boxoffice. A 1976 cult classic starring bowie as an extraterrestrial alien who landed on earth. Christiane, attending a 70s bowie concert in berlin with her friends. The most famous heroin addict was still a child when she entered into the drug world. Natja brunckhorst does a great job as christiane f. David bowie station to station christiane f 1980 new edit, remastered hd. Wir kinder vom bahnhof zoo is a soundtrack album by david bowie, released on lp in 1981 by rca victor and reissued on cd by emi in 2001, for the movie about christiane f. They are pictured disembarking from the 1983 bowie tour jet in germany, in june 1983. David bowie station to station scene in christiane f.