Sonne und Beton

Sonne und Beton is a movie based on the book with the same name by German comedian Felix Lobrecht. Despite the author's upcoming in the same part of Berlin where the story takes place, Berlin-Gropiusstadt, the story is a fictional one. We are following a group of four friends in their young teens, Lukas, Gino, Julius and Sanchez, watching them with their daily struggles in one of the roughest parts of Berlin.

This film is best described with one word: raw. As most of the cast is comprised of every day people and barely any recognized actors took part in the production, the film as a whole and especially the actor's performances feel very real and authentic. As a lot of German dialects are spoken, I suspect that this movie is not very easy to follow for most non-native speakers if you do not use subtitles. Even I as a native speaker had some trouble understanding a couple of sentences.

Overall, this film is quite brutal, honest but also thought-provoking through the portrayal of all the family problems in a poor part of German's capital. The struggle between trying to get out of your bad childhood, maybe even pursuing higher education and the reality that may be limiting you is portrayed really well. It also hits on the topics of immigration, domestic abuse and drug use while still portraying some light-hearted humor in parts.

All in all, definitely one of the better films the German cinema has produced over the last couple of years and worth a watch!

I lived in Berlin at the time the story is set and know that district, and while there is some truth to the story (which has gotten a lot worse), I gotta say it's far fetched and overblown. Berlin is not Paris and Neukölln is not Nanterre - that area is 25 minutes by subway to city center. A far cry from growing up in da hood classics like "Fresh" (1994), this is a series of bro stereotypes: meek German teenager constantly pressured by dysfunctional relatives, immature peers and bloodthirsty Muslims. I'm from the Balkans and even I think that's a tad simplistic. The director comes from a privileged background and has an annoying preachy tendency. The film is to be used as learning material on toxic masculinity in high schools, that gives you an idea what to expect. That being said, it's well made and the acting is very good for a German film. And the pressing motive has meanwhile become very real: German youngsters (and men) feel emasculated and worthless among migrant alpha males.

No pun intended - there are only a handful interviews on the disc I got ... I was unable to watch this in cinemas. But the first few people (actors) that spoke ... I wondered if they even understood what the movie was supposed to be about? Which would make it even richer and I reckon better(?) ... as in how they played it. Because the script may be as tight as it can be ... if you do not have the right actors to play the roles ... well you'll have some issues making it.

That all said, the last actor to be interviewed he got it. This is about circumstances ... this is about not being able to escape your surroundings ... this is about family, this is about a broken society and system ... with neighborhoods that will raise children unable to escape the day to day violence.

Even more so when they do not let kids go to school, just because they forgot their ID. That is rough - usually kids don't even want to go. But as good as the intents may be from our main character (kid) ... he lets himself being dragged down ... the cycle of violence is there ... and it is big! There are quite a few stories and even those who may seem evil, have a family, have their own cross to bear (or whatever the equivalent would be in other religions).

The dialog sounds real, the story feels real ... and it may make you sad ... thinking that this or something similar is how certain parts of Berlin (or any big city probably) "work" ... well they don't, that is what I am saying.

Story and acting pull you into the screen. I hope, the circumstances of the teenagers in the Plattenbauten are not that brutal as shown in this movie. Poverty of the families prevents the kids to get access to attention from girls or better educated grown-ups. And so the kids do not get a compass for strategic decisions towards a better life.

The most important treasure in such a toxic social environment is close friendship to get a chance to survive the teenage years. And this friendship between 4 teenagers is the core of the story.

My best movie of 2023 so far. A pity it is too dirty for an Oscar nomination.

The film is an absolute blast to watch and I wholeheartedly recommend it, especially for young people. While I initially had some reservations after watching the trailer, I was also skeptical whether the film could live up to such high expectations. However, those doubts proved to be unfounded. The film does an excellent job of capturing the lives of young people in Berlin, creating a uniquely authentic atmosphere that draws you in. The city itself plays a critical role in the story, and as a viewer, you'll have a blast accompanying the group on their journey. The dynamics between the actors are particularly impressive, as the cast is perfectly suited to their respective roles and embodies their characters in a convincingly realistic manner. I was particularly struck by the chemistry between the actors, which makes the film feel even more lively and authentic.

Throughout the film, we see the teenagers evolve and confront various challenges, and the choice of music and camerawork only adds to the excitement.

In conclusion, I cannot recommend the film enough. It is a masterful portrait of Berlin and a thoroughly entertaining cinematic experience. If you're interested in exploring the lives and challenges of young people in difficult circumstances, this film is an absolute must-see.