German Film: Ein Kaffee in Berlin (Oh Boy)

Movie Screening | German 130b and 132b

In German with English subtitles. All interested are welcome to join!

Winner of six German film awards including Best Film, Best Director, and Best Actor. "A Coffee in Berlin" swings clearly from melancholy to absurdity and back, and then back again. The film is both silly and philosophical, an infrequent combination.

Niko wants a cup of coffee. But either the coffee machine is broken, the vending machine out of order, the urn is empty, or a simple cup of coffee costs over three Euros ($3.50). The lack of coffee becomes symbolic for the feeling that somehow the whole world is conspiring against him. His relationship with his dad is terrible, his finances have been cut off. A former classmate has some potential but maybe she is as nutty as everyone else, and Niko can't seem to get a foothold on meaning, relevance, or action. 

Directed by Jan O. Gerster with Tom Schilling, Katharina Schüttler, and Justus von Dohnányi.