Christiane F

2006-09-20

Another day, another film about heroin. But Christiane F is no Trainspotting. This film is the true story of Christiane, a 14-year girl in Berlin in the mid-70s, who turns to prostitution to fund her growing ‘H’ habit. Gritty and dirty, the film portrays 70s Berlin as one might expect - as an environment drenched with drugs and dotted with VW Beetles. The blunt effects and the realism of the cinematography support the story well. David Bowie provides an excellent soundtrack for the movie, including a German-language version of Heroes.

Christiane F isn’t the remotest bit fun, nothing like the black humour of Trainspotting, but is worth watching for a strong depiction of the tragedy of addiction and the drugs scene of Zoo Garden.