Berlin Alexanderplatz – Burhan Qurbani

Burhan Qurbani's 2020 film Berlin Alexanderplatz is a modern adaptation of Alfred Döblin's famous 1929 novel. Unlike previous film versions of the story, Qurbani's film transplants the narrative to contemporary Berlin and makes its main character an undocumented refugee from West Africa. This reinterpretation allows the film to explore modern themes such as migration, racism, social exclusion, and the struggle for belonging in a new society.

The story follows Francis, played by Welket Bungué, who survives a perilous journey across the Mediterranean and arrives in Germany, hoping to start a new and honest life. However, as an undocumented migrant with no work permit and no legal protection, he faces many obstacles in Berlin. Although he resolves to lead a good life, the harsh realities of poverty and discrimination drive him into the city's criminal underworld.

By transforming the original story through the experiences of a modern refugee, Qurbani highlights the struggles faced by migrants in present-day Europe. The film portrays Berlin as a place of opportunity but also of danger, where social inequality, racism, and economic pressures shape the lives of outsiders. With its dramatic visuals and epic length of over three hours, Berlin Alexanderplatz tells a haunting story of identity, survival, and the search for dignity in modern society.