Christiane F. - Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo (1981)

Director:

Uli Edel

Writers:

Uli Edel (additional writer)
Kai Hermann (book)

Release Date:

2 April 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Music

Tagline:

At 12 it was Angel Dust. At 13 it was heroin. Then she took to the streets.

Plot:

This movie portrays the drug scene in Berlin in the 70s, following tape recordings of Christiane F....

Plot Keywords:

Drugs | Subculture | Germany | Voice Over Narration | Money

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Natja Brunckhorst	...	Christiane
Thomas Haustein	...	Detlev
Jens Kuphal	...	Axel
Rainer Woelk	...	Leiche (as Rainer Wölk)
Jan Georg Effler	...	Bernd
Christiane Reichelt	...	Babsi
Daniela Jaeger	...	Kessi
Kerstin Richter	...	Stella
David Bowie	...	Himself
Eberhard Auriga	...	Alter Fixer
Peggy Bussieck	...	Puppi
Lothar Chamski	...	Rolf
Uwe Diderich	...	Klaus
Ellen Esser	...	Kessis Mutter
Andreas Fuhrmann	...	Atze

Also Known As:

Christiane F. (International: English title)
Die Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo (West Germany) (working title)
We Children from Bahnhof Zoo (USA)
Zoo (UK)
Å være ung er for jævli (Norway) [no]
Christiana F. - Noi i ragazzi dello zoo di Berlino (Italy) [it]
Christiane F. - tyttö metroasemalta (Finland) [fi]
Christiane F., sta 13 porni gia narkotika (Greece) [el]
Eu, Christiane F., 13 Anos, Drogada e Prostituída (Brazil) [pt]
Moi, Christiane F., 13 ans, droguée, prostituée... (France) [fr]
My, dzieci z dworca Zoo (Poland) [pl]
Vi barn från Bahnhof Zoo (Sweden) [sv]
Yo, Cristina F (Spain) [es]

Runtime:

138 min | 131 min (cut version)

Country:

West Germany

Language:

German

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1981) | UK:18 (video) (1986) (cut) | UK:18 (video) (2000) (uncut) | UK:X (theatrical release) (1981) (cut) | New Zealand:R16 | Germany:16 | Norway:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:16 | Australia:R

Filming Locations:

Bahnhof Zoologischer Garten, Berlin, Germany

Company:

Solaris Film

Trivia:

Natja Brunckhorst was just 14 years old when the movie was filmed.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Christiane F. plays the David Bowie album, "ChangesOneBowie," in her room. But the song that is heard - the German version of "Heroes" ("Helden") - is not on that particular record.

Movie Connections:

Features Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens (1922)

Soundtrack:

Heroes/Helden

Where Trainspotting is novelized, this is true

If you search for a document telling you the truth about falling into drug addiction in the 70s, this is the right film for you. But this is not a mere documentary; it's got artistic value, as well as great acting by the young and cute Nadja Brunckhorst and Thomas Haupstein. The scene where Christiane, after her first heroin sniffing, gets through a long gallery in a car with her friends is a wonderful metaphore of her first step into addiction. Great locations and a beautiful, functional photography complete this very good film, which represents an isolated case in director Ulrich Edels's career.