Learn german with Christiane F.

This movie portrays the drug scene in Berlin in the 70s, following tape recordings of Christiane F. 14 years old Christiane lives with her mother and little sister in a typical multi-storey apartment building in Berlin. She's fascinated by the 'Sound', a new disco with most modern equipment. Although she's legally too young, she asks a friend to take her. There she meets Detlef, who's in a clique where everybody's on drugs. Step by step she gets drawn deeper into the scene.

Why learn german with Christiane F.?

"Christiane F." tells the true story of a teenage girl growing up in 1970s West Berlin. She becomes addicted to heroin and enters the world of drugs and prostitution at the Bahnhof Zoo train station. Through this heartbreaking story, you can learn German vocabulary related to city life, family relationships, and sadly, drug culture. Some examples include "Mutter" (mother), "Schwester" (sister), "Haus" (house), and "Bahnhof" (train station). You’ll also encounter more challenging words related to the difficult themes of the movie. The film explores themes of addiction, family breakdown, and the struggles of youth. You will experience a wide range of emotions, from love and friendship to fear and despair, expressed through powerful dialogue. The language used in the film ranges from everyday conversations to slang and harsh language of the streets, offering a valuable insight into different registers of spoken German. Paying attention to how characters speak in different situations will enhance your understanding of the nuances of German communication. This film is useful for German learners because it exposes you to realistic German dialogue and social issues of the time. The strong emotional content can help you connect with the characters and the story, making the learning process more engaging. Although the subject matter is tough, it’s a powerful and authentic portrayal of a specific time and place in German history, which can broaden your cultural understanding while improving your language skills. The subtitles can also be a great aid for understanding colloquialisms and slang.