City of lost souls
Rosa von Praunheim - 1983 - 94 Minutes - English & German Spoken - English Subtitles
WO 29-07 | 19:00
ZO 16-08 | 21:00
City of Lost Souls is a wild German musical that follows a group of eccentric cabaret performers as they move from America to Berlin to pursue careers in the arts. The raunchy ensemble - consisting of an occult sex therapist, a trapeze act duo, and artists of various sexual orientations and disorientations - struggles to find acceptance and creative freedom, all while working together in a greasy, fast-food joint called the Hamburger Queen. The main plot kicks off when the starstruck performer Lila gets pregnant by a mysterious communist who promises her fame and stardom in East Berlin. All hell breaks loose, and a wave of hilarious and politically satirical chaos ensues.
Von Praunheim's masterpiece has been described as a trans punk musical extravaganza brimming with outrageousness while remaining deeply human at its core. The film blends interviews, voice-overs, songs, and performance art, infusing the narrative with authentic autobiographical elements drawn from the lives of its performers and actors. Although the film received a modest reception upon its release, it has since developed a cult following and, in recent years, has been widely praised for its groundbreaking exploration of trans experiences and gender identity.