Frank Castorf

Wonders in the Suburbs

Political rivals try to sabotage a new mayor and her eccentric plans for an underprivileged French municipality.

Does all this make any sense? And if so - why does it take so long?

For a quarter of a century, Frank Castorf has created a microcosm in the Volksbühne that many considered to be an identity-forming fortress and a renegade island in the increasingly chic and monotonous centre of the capital. The marathon productions for which he was responsible were true orgies of association that demanded everything from the audience. The film accompanies Castorf's final season and is there when the theatre people get together once more to start a last fireworks display in the face of an uncertain future. (weltfilm GmbH)

Partisan

Volksbühne am Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz 1992-2017. The end of the GDR gave rise to new artistic freedoms in reunited Berlin. Shortly after the fall of the Wall, rebel director Frank Castorf was appointed artistic director of the Volksbühne. His way of working altered the public’s perception of this theater. The chronological history of the Castorf era between 1992 and 2017 is told here in excerpts from the productions and in a series of conversations conducted on the long sofa in the theater's foyer.

Shark Alarm at Müggel Lake

A lifeguard at Lake Müggel has his hand bitten off and the marks indicate a shark attack. The lake is closed to the public by extending a local festival indefinitely while the city council thinks of what can be done to remove the shark. The public becomes restless having their lake closed for so long and come up with a plan to drive the shark from the lake with large quantities of beer.

Monte Klamotte - Eine Expedition zum Berliner Schuldenberg

The capital Berlin is heavily in debt. Annually it takes 16 billion euros, but gives out 20 billion. The minus is covered by loans, which in turn attract interest.