"Christiane F." is a bleak, harrowing look at drug abuse among Berlin youth in the 1970s.It is perhaps the grittiest look at addiction I've ever seen on film.The only problem is that you never really get close to the characters. You get close to what they do - and what the people around them do - but you never feel like you know the main character that well.Part of the power of the movie comes from the casting of an actress who looks every bit as young as the character she's playing. You see her come precariously close to danger so many times, but the movie would be much more gripping if we were able to get closer to her.The movie has many nauseating scenes of drug use and the sickness that results from it. I couldn't help thinking that this would be a good movie to show to kids to turn them off drugs. I actually felt physically ill while watching parts of it.

In the 70s, David Bowie fan Christiane is a young teen living in a Berlin apartment block with her mother and little sister Sabine. Sabine decides to go live with their father. Christiane follows cool schoolmate Kessi to the disco "Sound" where she finds new friends. They do minor mayhem and drugs. Christiane hates that they do H. Soon she's also doing heroin as she slowly gets drawn into the dark world of drugs and sexual exploitation. She and boyfriend Detlef are forced to do more and more for their next hit.Natja Brunckhorst was actually 14 filming this movie. Her youth really sells this harrowing story about drug addiction spreading among young people. It may be cheesy but it would be an even bigger shock if the movie starts with her having a childlike birthday party. It would put her age and innocence front and center. This is not a fun romp like Trainspotting. This is a straight forward unflinching look at the damage from drug addiction. All the kids look worse and worse as the movie goes on. It's a little long but it shows the entire long road downwards.

Watched the movie twice in the last 24 hours, and I definitely enjoyed it even more the second time. In fact, while watching it for the first time, I got the impression, specially at the beginning of the story, that it was a little bit overrated. That probably was due to the fact that the transition from having the first experience with drugs to become a junkie is too fast, and I kind of got lost. Love the photography. Love the music. Love the concert and the streets of Berlin. Love disco Sound, even though I was just 7 in 1981, is kind of familiar to me, probably 10 years later still existed similar dumps in my hometown when I started going to discos. Love the scene of the gang at the top of the building at dawn, and, very specially, love Babsi.

I'm not easily shocked but this incredible film managed to do so a number of times. Films like this appeal greatly to me as I value and appreciate realism. I like to see things how they truly are, as graphic as it may be; which this film accomplishes.Other films that strongly cover drug addiction such as Requiem for a Dream and Trainspotting are very stylized from a cinematic standpoint, were as Christiane F. is horrifically raw. Director Uli Edel holds nothing back; the film is shot in a way that gives a real feeling of authenticity, presenting a very graphic and confronting depiction of the drug culture of that era. And capturing to great effect the bleakness and despair these young people go thorough on a daily basis trying to get their fix at whatever cost.I've read many posts at IMDb from people who talk about whether or not this film glamorizes drug use. I don't think it does, not intentionally anyway. But I can understand how teenagers perhaps now but especially from that era may find that culture appealing. For example, the scenes that take place in the Sound night club and at the David Bowie concert. There's the style of dress, the music, joints being passed around the audience, the atmosphere and of course David Bowie performing live in all his glory. Tell me that wouldn't be appealing to many teenagers.Natja Brunckhorst who plays Christiane gives a very convincing performance in her first ever film role. She does appear to be a little awkward in some scene but it's understandable given the subject matter. The young cast consists of mainly unknown actors who give fine performances which is a huge credit to them all.One of the film's most appealing qualities is the amazing soundtrack provided by musical icon David Bowie, who also makes a special guest appearance. It's kind of ironic that Bowie provided the soundtrack to this film being that during the late 70s he was at the lowest point of his cocaine addiction and decided to move to Berlin kick the habit a revitalize his career, which he did with great success.Christiane F. is such an intense and powerful film. At just over two hours long I was at no point board with the plot, I found it captivating unable to look away. This is the type of film that should be shown in high schools as part of anti-drug programs, as it's an in depth look into a dehumanizing world that most of us can't imagine being a part of.