Two oddball Berliners discover the abandoned appendages of a mannequin. Separately, and with grotesque consequence, they come to terms with their disjointed mate.Two oddball Berliners discover the abandoned appendages of a mannequin. Separately, and with grotesque consequence, they come to terms with their disjointed mate.Two oddball Berliners discover the abandoned appendages of a mannequin. Separately, and with grotesque consequence, they come to terms with their disjointed mate.
- Awards
- 8 wins total
Miklos Königer
- Trashman
- (archive footage)
- …
Henry Akina
- Dress Shop Owner
- (archive footage)
- …
Sushila Day
- Mannequin Arm
- (archive footage)
- …
Emil Kio
- Lady in Dress Shop
- (as Kio)
- …
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
This charming and beautiful fairytale of a movie tells its story in an unusual fashion. Our attention gets drawn to every day sights and sounds that are put together in a way that lets us rethink our own perception.
This works out particularly well because there is hardly any dialogue.
The contrast between the unique subject matter and the quiet dramaturgy is quite compelling and the music very much adds to the dreamlike quality.
Let this film take you on a wild journey and within the strange Berlin city life you will find the beauty of a fairy tale.
The Berlin Bride comes across like a German Expressionist episode from The Twilight Zone; and that's good thing. The tension and unusualness of this film kept me enthralled from the first frame to the last. Kudos to the filmmaker for doing so much with so little, proving once again that you don't need a grand budget to tell a story remarkably.
In Michael Bartlett's haunting feature, "The Berlin Bride" we enter a strange new world, not unlike the one David Lynch brought us to in "Eraserhead," some 40 years ago. The visual aesthetic that inhabits the film, truly makes it feel out of time, like we're watching a long-lost 70's film that has just been unearthed. The art direction and set design was also very impressive - so many rich details to pour over, like a single egg in the refrigerator or a stack of VHS tapes next to a naked Barbie doll. There were even moments where "Stalker" came to mind, when the characters were walking outside, and the outside world (trees, old apartment buildings) had a sort of unwordly feel to them. Definitely for fans of the occult and strange, but also for anyone looking for something a little bit different.
A provocative film portraying the exploration of the being and sexuality from the main characters's subconscious minds. Absurdity, suffering and an obsessive undefined lust for the obscure object of desire.
A filming style influence by mise-en-scene, sound editing and the music. The set design contributes beautifully to create a fantasy world full of symbolism. Great movie, especially for art film lovers.
What an interesting vision of Berlin in what seems like the 80s. Each shot, from the first to the last, was unique to the film's vision. I absolutely love the haunting soundtrack, with gorgeous violin lines throughout. What grace we see in both the music as well as the visuals of all of the hands that make up this story. There is a beautiful blend throughout the film of non-diegetic sound that becomes diegetic. This is done seamlessly. Amazing job throughout!!
Did you know
- TriviaSteve Buscemi, visiting Berlin with his girlfriend at the time, spent a quiet evening alone with Bartlett reviewing early footage of what would become today's The Berlin Bride. Bartlett's apartment was on Seesener Strasse, No. 23, where the young director not only lived but also where most of the film's interiors were shot. Buscemi, a street performer and off-Broadway actor at that time, sat with Bartlett on the carpet, a few beers between them, watching the rough 16mm footage Bartlett had copied to VHS tapes for review. Bartlett was preparing for another project when a friend, who had caught Buscemi performing in New York, thought he might be good for the lead in the new film. Nothing ever came of the new project, just good memories of a fun evening in West Berlin.
- ConnectionsEdited from Konzert für die rechte Hand (1987)
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