Neukölln Unlimited reviews
Review by on 25 Sep 2010
Where is home if you’re born and raised in Germany, but with Lebanese parents? To the Akkouch siblings, Hassan, Lial and Maradona, a neighbourhood of Berlin, Neukölln, is where they would call home. But the authorities disagree, and despite being in their late teens, the family is still struggling to gain a permanent residence permit to Germany. Already deported once, they constantly hang between where they live and belong, and the potential to be forced to return to a place where they don’t even know the language anymore.
In many ways, the film feels like it blurs between fact and fiction, simply by the unobtrusive nature of its making - purely observatory, catching some very personal moments between the family members. In this way, the various personalities shine through – each in their own way becoming likeable and familiar. What successfully comes across is the deep love and sense of responsibility that each holds for the other. Also interesting is the way the children take the adult roles, their mother disappearing into the background as they talk about bills and so on. They are obviously talented people, active in their lives and community, wanting to succeed in life – each time coming close, but failing to achieve their dream - which makes the situation all the more poignant.
This is an effective documentary, which uses an array of different techniques very well, especially the great use of animation as flashback. The result is a truly worthwhile and heartbreaking story.
Mike Boyd
In many ways, the film feels like it blurs between fact and fiction, simply by the unobtrusive nature of its making - purely observatory, catching some very personal moments between the family members. In this way, the various personalities shine through – each in their own way becoming likeable and familiar. What successfully comes across is the deep love and sense of responsibility that each holds for the other. Also interesting is the way the children take the adult roles, their mother disappearing into the background as they talk about bills and so on. They are obviously talented people, active in their lives and community, wanting to succeed in life – each time coming close, but failing to achieve their dream - which makes the situation all the more poignant.
This is an effective documentary, which uses an array of different techniques very well, especially the great use of animation as flashback. The result is a truly worthwhile and heartbreaking story.
Mike Boyd
Film details
Neukölln Unlimited
DOCUMENTARIES / GERMAN FILMS
Director: Agostino Imondi; Dietmar Ratsch
Germany, 2010.
96 mins. with English subtitles.
Back to the film page
