The Berlin Calling: Questions About Film

What do drugs mean to Ickarus?


1. Ickarus uses drugs to help him make better music because he thinks that is the only way to do it. It has turned into a daily routine for him and it is a lifestyle that is hard to get out of.


Why, when, and how are his fans taking drugs, and which drugs do they take?


2. The youth culture Ickarus is in is all about taking drugs to have a good time at the clubs. Ecstasy, cocaine, and LSD are some of the main drugs taken in the party scene life because they stimulate your body to feel, see, and experience things in a more vibrant way then you would feel being sober. For example, the lights on the dance floor will be more appealing, people dancing around you will stimulate your brain even more, and the music playing will be more moving and fun to listen/dance to. Many fans either take ecstasy/LSD pills or snort cocaine in bathroom stalls or on table tops; not very sanitary.


While we can see that his drug habits get him ill and into a psychosis, and while we witness his relapse and inability to work successfully, why does the subculture Ickarus belongs to focus on drugs?


3. The subculture Ickarus belongs to is people who always love to have a good time by listening/dancing to techno, drinking, and taking various drugs. After watching this movie, I believe this group consider this as a healthy lifestyle; because they enjoy always being on the go and do not know what normal like anymore.




Compare the standards you know from your home society with the people you see depicted in this movie. Which are the stark differences and contrasts?


4. The standards of my town aren't too much better then people depicted in this movie. All sorts of drugs are sold and taken by people all around town. This was not surprising to me because I have dealt with situations similar to this movie all of my life not only because of my friends getting into drugs and causing trouble, but a lot of the same stuff happened in my family too. The only difference would be is that in my town, techno isn't too popular and there are no parties hosted like that in my hometown.




Germany is considered a strong industrial nation the world over. Do you think that the youth culture as depicted here could change that? How about work ethics of Ickarus and of Alice, the label director who fires and then re-signs him?


5. This movie only shows one type of youth culture from Germany that lives and breathes for the party scene. I believe that there are many other young people in Germany that can keep it a strong industrial nation, but I also think that people who are into the party scene will grow out of that rebellious phase of their lives and will be able to work at a job that will continue to make Germany's industrial nation stronger. Also, although Ickarus loved to party and do drugs 24/7, he was very compassionate and dedicated to his music! People can have fun and still be motivated to succeed in life, but only if they want to. I personally don't think Alice or the label director have very good work ethic because they both gave up on their client for one, but shortly after they just went back to working with Ickarus when he was getting better and thought his new music was going to be successful. Sounds to me like they were using him rather then helping him.




Which similar "cult movies" of US origin have you seen, if any?


6. I can't say I have seen any US cult movies similar to this movie. However, I really did enjoy this film.




In this film, the only thing that really jumped out to me is how open everyone is about taking drugs. In the United States, taking any drug is frowned upon and their are consequences if people are caught taking or having them. Although no cops were shown in movie, I feel like the people don't care what is legal or not. People were also very open to affairs, and that isn't shown in too many U.S. films, so that was definitely surprising to see that the couples didn't seem to care about being cheated on.