Berlin Alexanderplatz

...together with major contributions...

by many others, present:

A film in 13 parts with an epilogue, based on the novel by Alfred Döblin.

Biberkopf, Franz. His discharge papers.

Thanks.

All the best! Have fun!

Part 1: The Punishment Begins

Hey!

Yeah?

Something wrong?

What do you mean?

Are you afraid?

No need to be afraid.

Times are bad for most people.

One more won't be noticed.

It's easier when you get out now than it was in the past.

Only four years, wasrt it?

What are four years?

Nothing at all.

My God, others have served far longer.

See, it's as simple as that. You just cross the threshold...

It's simple, isn't it?

OK, now you give it a try!

The main thing is not to look back.

It's all superstition and doesn't help usually,

but that's how you have to do it.

But if it doesn't help...?

Who knows what helps who? It's one of those rules.

If you don't turn around you won't come back.

The fact that most of them do come back is a mystery...

people like us will never understand.

All these people...

and the city...

and the world, and me...!

Just don't cause any trouble, buddy! You'll be all right.

About time, too!

And remember, don't look back!

Idiot!

What's the matter? You don't feel well?

They have forks...

and stick meat into their mouths with them.

Then they pull the forks out again,

and they don't bleed.

You don't feel well?

Are you in pain?

Oognac!

A cognac! A cognac...!

When the bell rings, work must begin immediately.

It may be interrupted only at the times appointed for eating,

walking and instruction.

When walking, prisoners must hold their arms extended...

and swing them back and forth...

Stand still! Do you feel sick?

What should happen?

It can't be so bad.

You won't go under.

Berlirs big.

Where thousands live, there'll be room for one more.

There comes a call like thunder's roar,

like clash of swords, waves dashing on the shore:

To the Rhine, the German, German Rhinel

Guardians all we'd be of thine.

Rest easy, dear fatherland of minel

Rest easy, dear fatherland of minel

Strong and true stands the watch,

the watch on the Rhine.

Strong and true stands the watch,

the watch on the Rhine.

Prisoners are kept in solitary confinement, cells and in groups.

In solitary confinement, a prisoner is isolated from other prisoners.

A prisoner in cell confinement...

will be brought together with others for exercise, instruction and worship.

Oome inside with me! I'll tell you a story.

What's the matter?

Down into the ground,

into the earth,

where it's dark!

For God's sake! You're not at home here.

I'm only a guest here, too.

Get up!

Be quiet, for God's sake! If the old man hears...!

We'll get along with each other.

No one's going to take me away from here!

No one's going to take me away from here!

The parable of Zannowich

If you won't say what's wrong with you,

I'll tell you a story.

Why does he groan and sigh? A decision must be made.

A certain course has to be pursued,

and you don't know which one, Franz.

You don't want the old one,

and in your cell, you just groaned and hid yourself...

and didn't think. You didn't think, Franz.

Don't worry about yourself so much!

Listen to others!

Who says you're so important?

God's hand lets no man fall.

Now, I'll tell you the story...

of Zannowich,

Stefan Zannowich.

My late father, God bless him, told us many tales.

There were 7 of us, 7 hungry mouths,

and when there was nothing to eat, he'd tell us stories.

It doesn't fill your stomach, but it helps you to forget.

It's easy to whimper. A sick mouse can whimper.

In this world, we know life's not all gold, beauty and joy.

Who was this Zannowich?

Who was his father?

Who were his parents?

Paupers...

like most of us,

shopkeepers, pedlars, traders...

and almost starved in the process.

He took up cards and played with the people.

It cost them a mint of money.

Old Zannowich was a cheat, a card sharper,

but he had brains.

He bought himself an estate in the end,

a whole village.

And he sent his children to college...

and he died in old age, respected and at peace with the world.

That was the life of old Zannowich.

A sick camel can groan, too.

If the father's a tiny plant, he wants his son to be a tree.

If the father's a stone, the son should be a mountain.

Stefan Zannowich junior...

was a great narrator,

even as a young man of 20.

He could be pliable, ingratiate himself.

He had a way with women...

and knew how to play the swell among men.

It was like a miracle to young Zannowich.

Everywhere people flocked to him.

He had the key to everyone's heart.

Fool!

You should repent:

Acknowledge what has happened; see what needs to be donel

Now... I want to ask you...

how Zannowich got as far as he did,

father and son for that matter.

Because they had brains; they were clever, you think.

Other people have been clever, too,

but they haven't achieved as much at 80 as Stefan at 20.

What's most important are a persors eyes...

and his feet.

You have to be able to see the world...

and go toward it.

So listen to what Stefan Zannowich did,

the man who had seen people...

and knew...

how little one need be afraid of them.

See how they smooth one's path,

how they almost show a blind man the way.

They wanted him to be Baron Warta.

OK, he said, then I'm Baron Warta.

Later, that wasrt enough for him - nor for them.

If one can be a baron, why not more?

Hey, listen, little man,

are you around the bend?

A bit...

cracked maybe?

Maybe, I am around the bend.

First I'm a fool, then I'm meshuga.

Why are you sitting here giving me a load of bull?

Who's sitting here and won't get up? Me?

...when there's a sofa behind me?

If it bothers you,

I'll stop talking.

It's more comfortable sitting like that.

Just cut the bull, will you?

Whatever you want.

I've told the story many times. I don't have to go on...

if you're not interested.

No, no, no. You carry on with your story.

I just wanted to open your eyes.

This Stefan Zannowich I told you about...

got hold of money:

So much that he could go to Germany with it...

and be free.

The moral of Zannowich's story...

is that he knew about himself and about people.

Yet he was as innocent as a little bird.

You see,

he wasrt in the least afraid of the world.

Surprising conclusion to the story...

and the invigorating effect this has on the released prisoner.

I haven't met an odd fish like you in a long time.

Maybe you haven't been looking.

There are still some around.

What's your line, anyway?

Baying at the moon?

That's good!

Now we'll talk about the moon.

Who is this man? What are you doing with him?

And what are you doing here, Eliser?

I don't know who he is. He won't tell me his name.

Been telling stories again?

What business is it of yours?

Has he been telling you stories?

He doesn't talk.