The Series (5/5)

     Berlin Alexanderplatz is a 1980 mini-series directed by cinematic icon and New German cinema master Rainier Werner Fassbinder. Fassbinder's 15+ hour film is an adaptation of the novel by Alfred Doblin, first published in 1929, and adapted for the screen for the first time in 1931 with assistance by Doblin himself. The original 1931 film compresses Doblin's epic novel into a short 88 minutes, but still manages to be effective in translating the story to cinema screens. Fassbinder has no such issue with time constraints, and adapted the book in a way that actually expands on the story, giving details that were only hinted at in the original text.

    The film opens with Franz Biberkopf (Günter Lamprecht) being released into a new German society after a 4 year sentence in prison for killing his fiancee during an argument.  As Biberkopf walks the city streets following his release he begins to fall into panic at the changes he sees in the modern urban culture where he dwells. Society is on the decline from an economic and political standpoint (this is pre-Nazi Germany, just as they were beginning to rise within the culture). But becoming more free in social and sexual ways. Biberkopf gets a room from a friend and confidante Mrs. Bast (Brigitte Mira in another brilliant performance for Fassbinder).

    The series shows Biberkopf's stuggle with adapting to society, and his attempts and failures to survive in this new world. Most specifically trying to avoid the criminal past that made up the pre-prison portion of his life, but realizing that due to the economic decline, and need to survive he will need to rejoin the criminal culture he once avoided. He further finds himself in a doomed romance with prostitute Mieze (Barbara Sukowa).

    The first 12 episodes of Fassbinder's epic series have occasional ups and downs, and yet still manage to feature some of the finest work he would ever do in his career, and also some of the greatest overall cinematic moments bar none. The trouble with the film really only lies with the 13th episode which is an extended epilogue sequence which does nothing to add to the story and just feels tonally out of place with the prior 12. Regardless ,it is an interesting experiment and does nothing to harm the quality of the preceding 12.

Audio/Video (5/5)

    Criterion utilizes a HD master likely provided by the R.W. Fassbinder Foundation that looks quite remarkable. The film is presented in a 1:37:1 1080p AVC encoded transfer that is nicely detailed, organic with solid colors.

    Audio is handled by a DTS-HD MA audio track in German that accurately conveys the sound of the film without issue.

Extras (4/5)

    Criterion has brought a stellar slate of extras to their release of Berlin Alexanderplatz.  We get the full 1931 adaptation, plus 2 documentaries from the Fassbinder Foundation, a documentary from 1980 on the making of the film, and much more.

Overall

    Fassbinder's Berlin Alexanderplatz is one of the most triumphant moments in cinema history, and one of Fassbinder's greatest. The Blu-ray looks and sounds fantastic, and has a nice slate of extras HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.