BERLIN CALLING
(director/writer: Hannes Stohr; cinematographer: Andreas Daub; editor: Anne Fabini; music: Paul Kalkbrenner; cast: Paul Kalkbrenner (DJ Ickarus Karow/Martin), Corinna Harfouch (Dr. Petra Paul), Rita Lengel (Athilda), Araba Walton (Corinna), Henriette Muller (Jenny), Peter Schneider (Crystal Pete, clinic patient), Caspar Body (Goa Gebhard, clinic patient), RP Kahl (Erbse, drug dealer), Max Mauff (Zivi Alex, clinic worker), Udo Kroschwald (Karow/Martins Valer), Megan Gay (Alice, head of record studio); Runtime: 109; MPAA Rating: NR; producers: Karsten Aurich, Hannes Stohr; Movie Net/vimeo; 2025-Germany-in German with English subtitles)
“A hipster druggie musical.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
German filmmaker Hannes Stohr (“Berlin is in Germany”/”One Day in Europe”) directs a hipster druggie musical in the form of a fictitious portrait of a successful electro composer in Berlin’s techno club scene, whose fast lifestyle is to create music and get high on Ecstasy pills, cocaine and psychedelic drugs.
The real-life musician Paul Kalkbrenner in his film debut plays a well-traveled, egotistical, DJ musician and producer named Martin but called by his alias name Ickarus Karow, who is working on a new studio album he will title Berlin Calling. His attractive gf Athilda (Rita Lengel) is around to warn him to slow down on his drug intake, as does his concerned record studio boss Alice (Megan Gay). Athilda goes on tour with the rocker when he plays in other European cities.
A bad Ecstasy pill causes the DJ to be treated for a psychotic episode at an addiction clinic run by Dr. Petra Paul (Corinna Harfouch), who places him under her care. Athilda abandons him for a lesbian lover (Araba Walton) when she sees he can’t stop doing drugs when he takes a break from the clinic and visits his dealer (RP Kahl).
Kalkbrenner’s engaging performance keeps things humming until its unearned happy ending gives it an uplift. The tragicomedy is more noteworthy for its rich musical sounds created by Kalkbrenner (which I enjoyed) rather than its overly familiar melodramatic drug abuse story among the artists.
It played at the Locarno Film Festival.
REVIEWED ON 12/13/2025 GRADE: B-
dennisschwartzreviews.com