TRANSIT BLOG

TRANSIT Blog was formerly part of the Multicultural Germany Project (MGP), which we are now merging with Transit Journal. Founded in 2001 by the German Department at UC Berkeley, MGP served as a research collaborative and continuously updated archive of migration, supported by the tireless energy and willpower of our very own Deniz Göktürk and UC Berkeley’s graduate students. Our blog includes reactions to current events and news, research materials, and teaching resources. Maintained mainly by students at Berkeley, the blog provides a window into our activities and campus discussions. We hope that TRANSIT Blog continues to serve as a resource and forum for both aspiring and continuing professionals in German Studies and its adjacent fields; we welcome contributions of short thought-pieces of ca. 1000-1500 words year-round. If you would like to contribute your own blog post or other materials (in English or German), please contact us at transitjournal@berkeley.edu.

  • Otomo

    Produced by Irene Von Alberti With actors Isaach DeBankole, Eva Mattes, Hanno Friedrich, Barnaby Metschurat Available on DVD in Germany and the US In August 1989, this case stirred the population of an entire city. A west African applicant for asylum had his ticket checked during a tram journey in Stuttgart and took flight. When…

  • Omiros (Hostage)

    With actors Stathis Papadopoulos, Giannis Stankoglou, Theodora Tzimou Available on DVD in the US An Albanian immigrant hijacks a Greek passenger bus in hopes of gaining safe passage back to his home country in director Constantine Giannaris’ tense account of the headline-making 1999 hostage situation that quickly spiraled into disaster. An armed Albanian man wanders…

  • Sonnenallee

    Produced by Claus Boje With actors Alexander Scheer, Alexander Beyer, Katharina Thalbach, Teresa Weissbach Available on DVD in Germany A “mufta” is a multifunctional table, a “Minetta” is a radio, mopeds are called “Swallows” and “Asthmakraut Halle” (a special asthma medication) is the only recreational drug available. The Soviet Union is big brother; the rest…

  • Brudermord (Fratricide)

    With actors Xevat Gectan, Erdal Celik, Bulent Buyukasik, Nurettin Celik, Yusuf Gectan, Taies Farzan, Oral Uyan, Xhiljona Ndoja; Available on DVD in Germany Summary: Semo, a Kurdish immigrant and pimp living in Germany, offers to pay for his younger brother Azad to come and join him. Reluctantly, Azad accepts his brother’s offer and makes the long…

  • Was nicht passt, wird passend gemacht (If It Don’t Fit, Use a Bigger Hammer)

    With actors Dietmar Bär and Ralf Richter Available on DVD Die chaotische Bauarbeiter-Clique um den Polier Horst nimmt ihren Arbeitsalltag ziemlich gelassen. Sei es der geizige Boss oder ein toter polnischer Schwarzarbeiter, der nicht in sein “Grab” unter dem Rohbau passen will: Nach dem Motto “Was nicht passt, wird passend gemacht” lösen Horst und seine…

  • Grün ist die Heide (The Heath is Green)

    With actors Rudolf Prack and Sonja Ziemann Der ehemalige Gutsbesitzer Lüdersen zieht mit seiner Tochter in die Lüneburger Heide. Er ist ein fanatischer Jäger und beginnt zu wildern. Eines Tages wird ein Gendarm erschossen. Der Verdacht fällt auf Lüdersen. Links: IMDB, Film Portal, Filmdatenbank Genre(s): Drama, Melodrama; Gangster, Crime, and Detective;

  • Stadt der verlorenen Seelen (City of Lost Souls)

    With actors Wayne County, Manfred Finger, Judith Flex, Helga Goetze, Gerhard Helle City of Lost Souls is the latest work by cult director Rosa von Praunheim, known for his radical, controversial films that usually challenge both nongay and gay audiences. A group of Americans live in the midst of the lively artists’ set in Berlin.…

  • Gorilla Bathes at Noon

    With actors Svetozar Cvetkovic and Anita Mancic available on VHS with English subtitles in the US GORILLA BATHES AT NOON examines the Soviet Union’s collapse through the goofball misadventures of a Russian soldier left stranded in East Berlin after the fall of the wall. Links: IMDB, Film Portal Genre(s): Comedy;

  • Gegen die Wand (Head-On)

    With actors Birol Unel, Sibel Kekilli, Catrin Striebeck, Guven Kirac; available on DVD in the US and Germany Rezension von Julia Schroeder: Der Film “Gegen die Wand” von Fatih Akins ist eine dramatische und brutale Tragikomödie und gleichzeitig eine zärtliche Liebesgeschichte über zwei verzweifelte, leidenschaftliche Menschen, die sich nach ihrem Selbstmordversuch, (er fährt gegen die Wand…

  • Schlaf der Vernunft

    Links: IMDB, Filmportal Genre(s): Drama, Melodrama;