BERLIN CALLING

1. What do drugs mean to Ickarus?
    
   According to the movie, Berlin Calling, the actor use drugs to relax his mind, make him more calm and energetic in his work.
    
2. Why, when, and how are his fans taking drugs, and which drugs do they take?

Ickarus’s fans usually takes drug in night clubs, different parties and in bathrooms etc. after Ickarus is done with his stage performance. The drugs used by his fans were cocaine, marijuana, PMA pills and heroin.

1.  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?

From the movie, it is seen that consuming drugs gives Ickarus huge metal satisfaction. He feels more relaxed and can swing his work easily with a rhythm.   

1.  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?

Consuming drugs was never appreciated in any society. In Bangladesh, mostly illiterate people who are jobless consumes drugs on the streets to overcome their frustration and anger. At one point, these people have no money to live, to eat or to stay. On the other hand, they steal or loot at other people’s home to buy drugs. Moreover, their life is miserable and very low…

1. 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?

According to the movie, the society where Ickarus belongs is quite trendy. All people runs the economy with money, power, sex and drugs. The work ethic of Ickarus is unstable, at times it looks good, and however most times it looks very poor. From the story line of the movie, it is understood that using drugs helps Ickarus to power up his work efficiently but again drugs makes him unstable and drowsy. On the other hand, Alice was very upset with Ickarus and she was trying to stop Ickarus from this drug addiction.

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

Honestly, I never seen any Hollywood “Cult Movies” to the best of my knowledge.

 

 

 

 

Reflection:

The movie had a good story line and neatly discussed the relationship between Ickarus and Alice and their musical career. However, the movie contains few scenes with nudity and brief sexual acts that makes the audience little uncomfortable at times. Usage of drugs openly in night clubs and parties was quite a shock for me. From the movie, it is understood that German people and German culture is quite open and pretty straight forward. People don't have any doubt or guilt of what they are doing their daily life. All are independent and free to do whatever they fell to do. In one scene, Ickarus was drinking an alcoholic beverage in Church, which means that people are very open minded in their culture. There is no restriction or no one dares to bother each other. Also it seems like consuming drugs is pretty common in people and everyone accepts this habit very easily in the society. Also the people had no fear of getting caught or busted by cops. The director of this movie had clearly narrated the story with the true real life ups and downs of the society.