In this absurdist musical comedy drama based on the musical by the same name, life in Berlin at the start of the 80s, is as close to abysmal as it gets. Sunnie is a girl from the province with a dream in her heart and some change in her pocket. Berlin is the place and there is where she will meet Johnnie, a rock star! He slipped her his address after a concert and then something else after that and now here she is angry and pregnant. Kreuzberg is the place, the subway is the stange as Sunnie becomes acquainted with a bunch of strange people, who work the alleys and people the platforms. From the gangs to the tramps. From the sellers to the buyers. All are here to say high and live low. Bambi is one of them. He tells Sunnie that Johnnie’s address does not exist and that she has been had maybe? Together they try to find the rock star in bustling metropolitan.

A new restoration of this cult marvel is very much welcomed. Previous versions had issues with the German soundtrack (essential to get that right surely) and made this hit musical tepid. Now the visual aspect and the audio (mono so you know) is pretty good. The print was never in danger of being buggered up but the score has at least some depth in it, missed before. This allows the viewer to marvel at the vocal ranges but also the pointed song words. LINIE 1 is more than the stated some of its many musical parts mind you. Yes I agree it is a socio political, anyone knows this. It is 80s hued capitalism critical mainstay. It is also funny, well cherographed, intellegently scripted and succeeds in cross over to the screen well. Its portrait of Berlin’s society before the fall of the Berlin Wall, is discussed in detail during the only worthwhile extra with Hauff and Junkersdorf. They see to it that you will understand what is said but also why it was timely then and might have relevance now.

Extras:

NEW Interview with Reinhard Hauff and Eberhard Junkersdorf

NEW Linie 1: Interviews with actors Petra Zieser and Rainer Strecker

NEW Trailer

Original Trailer