"Berlin Calling" Reaction

In the movie "Berlin Calling," Ickarus is an avid drug consumer. He uses them on a daily basis. The most common drug he uses seems to be ecstasy, or things similar to it. A majority of the drugs come in pill, and sometimes powder form.  Meth and Cocaine are other similar drugs that he and his friends take on a regular basis. To him, they are a way to make his life more exciting. They are originally used for fun and to enhance the club experiences of him and his followers, but eventually turn in to addictions, as with almost all drugs. Since he is a DJ, and is often performing and attending events in his genre of music, Ickarus is constantly exposed to these drugs and takes them along with his friends and followers. Ickarus probably ends up consuming more than the average partier because he is surrounded in that environment constantly.
Many of the youth are using these drugs because it is the popular thing to do. Many habits and fads are formed in this way. They believe it is a way to enhance their experience with the genre of music that Ickarus is creating. Just like people in the 50's started the rock 'n roll movement, and in the 70's the woodstock group that took drugs like heroine and marijuana to get "in touch" with the music, the new wave of youth is experimenting with drugs like ecstasy. Youth often have the believe that are invincible, and take drugs regardless of their obvious negative affects on the body and mind.
Since I am originally from a small town, and many would also consider St. Cloud a smaller community compared to many big cities like Berlin or New York, many of the standards I grew up with were much more conservative. You saw less of the youth behaving in reckless ways because the community most likely knew about it. In larger cities the younger generation can get together at large events like the ones in the movie and get away from all the the bad stigmas and judgements. The movie was set in Germany, but similar cultures like this can be found all over the world, but mainly in large cities where it will be more acceptable. Where I am from, alcohol is the main "drug" that is consumed among youths as it is more accepted. Germany's youth consuming ecstasy and drugs of the like is not unique, though. That culture has also spread throughout the U.S. and is gaining more popularity.
The work ethics of Ickarus and Alice are of different priority than their earlier generations. With the new age of technology, many people are seeking careers away from industry. I think think that brings people away form pursuing their careers in the industrial field, but people are still focused on seeking a source of income in different ways. Ickarus does this by doing something he loves and is good at it, and the label director knows that. Many of the standards that would be upheld by traditional employees is not necessary for someone in Ickarus's field of work and are overlooked.
A very similar movie to this I find is "Walk the Line", a biography of Johnny Cash. He was a pioneer of a new genre of music and got caught up in drugs just like Ickarus. His parents and other elders did not understand, but the youth following loved it, and he made millions of dollars and became very famous.


The questions you need to answer while viewing:

1. What do drugs mean to Ickarus?

2. Why, when, and how are his fans taking drugs, and which drugs do they take?

3. While we can see that his drug habits get him ill and into a psychosis, and while we witness his relapse and inability to work successfully, why does the subculture Ickarus is in focus on drugs?

4. Compare the standards you know from your home society with the people you see depicted in this movie. Which are the stark differences and contrasts?

5. Germany is considered a strong industrial nation the world over. Do you think that the youth culture as depicted here could change that? How about work ethics of Ickarus and of Alice, the label director who fires and then re-signs him?

6. Which similar "cult movies" of US origin have you seen, if any?