Kalle Kosmonaut

Summary

"What has become of you? You’re a monster. We all don't recognise you anymore. We haven't recognised you since you were in jail." - "I'm telling you that you don't have to recognise me. You have to try to understand me."

The Allee der Kosmonauten does not lead to the stars. If you grow up in the prefabricated high-rises here in north-eastern Berlin, your path is more likely to be mapped out in other directions. Even if you're as smart as Pascal, also known as Kalle, who is ten-years-old at the beginning of the film. Tine Kugler and Günther Kurth have accompanied him for over a decade. Sometimes full of hope and ambition, sometimes burdened by fears and problems, tormenting thoughts and experiences, he looks for his place in life.

A documentary observation in which animated sequences complement what is transpiring beyond the camera. Empathetic, poetic and humorous, the directing duo not only draws a precise portrait of the charismatic protagonist, but it also creates a kaleidoscopic picture of the unglamorous side of Berlin, far from the landmarks and trendy neighbourhoods.

Source: 72. Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin (Catalogue)