Berlin analog

About the film

Daily routine in Berlin subways

The subway train doors are closing and two young men slip in, swinging their guitars and jamming, performing their songs. To street musicians any public space is ‘the street’. So they seek their audience wherever lots of people congregate, making the street their stage. The Danish filmmaking team Jens Riis and Peter Mikkel Gaardamand Zäll hail from Copenhagen and are fans of the Berlin music scene. They think the street musicians in Berlin don’t get the attention they deserve. These buskers add color to the dreariest city nooks and crannies. They embody the rebellious and free spirit of true artists. Two young men slip into the train, swinging their guitars

BERLIN ANALOG

accompanies four musicians on their tours of the city. Their songs form the film's soundtrack. Despite the increasing commericialization of urban space, Berlin still has spaces for musicians to play. The film is mainly set in Berlin’s Prenzlauer Berg district, where the many cafés and young people provide the street musicians with an ideal audience. Erik from Italy and Noel from South Africa have recently joined up. Together they roam the streets of Berlin’s former ‘East Side’, through Oderberger Straße, on Helmholtzplatz, or in the aptly named subway line ‘U2’ traveling between Schönhauser Allee and Rosa Luxemburg Platz stations. The duo are a feast for the ears, but also for the eye and the heart. “Berlin attracts a lot of performers, and that includes those who haven’t ‘made it'” says Noel directly into the camera. He adds, “musicians who have failed commercially take to the street”. While Noel was busy explaining, Erik was checking to see if there were enough people on the square: no, not enough. They move on.

Street Celebrity

Every Berlin tourist has probably met George. He occupies a prominent spot in Berlin’s Mitte district. The sound flowing from his soprano saxophone seems somehow to perfectly fit the soundtrack heard near the bridge to Museum Island. George doesn’t consider himself a typical street musician. Most performers move from one place to another, but he needs a home base. He also prefers playing solo, which gives him a better opportunity to meet people. George sees himself as a traditional storyteller. So we can sit back and enjoy the show while he spins his yarns with real pleasure. [/EN]George a sans doute déjà rencontré chaque touriste à Berlin au moins une fois. Son emplacement est éminent et le son de son saxophone soprano fait en quelque sorte déjà partie de la bande sonore du pont situé sur l'Île des musées à Berlin-Mitte. George se considère comme un musicien de rues atypique. Tandis que d'autres artistes changent d'endroit, il a besoin d'un emplacement fixe. Il préfère jouer seul car on entre mieux en contact avec les gens de cette façon. George se place dans la tradition des conteurs d'histoires et c'est ainsi que l'on écoute aussi avec plaisir les histoires qu'il raconte devant la caméra. A tough day in the streets of Berlin ends Andrey is from Russia. When he’s here, he misses Moscow or Saint Petersburg and when he’s in Russia, he misses Berlin. In his opinion, Berlin has a cosmopolitan flair and little in common with the typical provincial German city. He loves playing Russian songs on his guitar, but his most requested piece is the one he sings in French. Unfortunately he only knows one French song. Andrey plays not only the streets, but also in clubs. Short and sweet is the encounter with Nacho, a musician from Spain. George is a big fan of Nacho’s and loves the Spaniard’s extravagant showmanship. Nacho is a man of few words. He jams on his guitar and rocks out before disappearing into the crowd. He’s the typical street musician, always on the move, never in one place too long. There are fewer and fewer places for street musicians to perform. Berlin is becoming more and more regulated. The masses stream through shopping malls with purchase-enhancing jingling in the background. Yes, its the Muzak sonic barrier that keeps the world of the street, indeed the rest of the world, at bay. But life out there is colorful and interesting. BERLIN ANALOG is a messenger and witness to this and invites us to sit back and listen to music made by hand.