Überleben in Neukölln

Neukölln was a poor, working-class district of Berlin with high crime rates. Artists used to come here because of the low rents. In recent years, Neukölln has developed into a hipster district and a speculator's mecca. Director Rosa von Praunheim calls Neukölln “currently the most exciting part of Berlin,” but its days could be numbered because the current residents will soon be unable to pay the rents. Among them are Juwelia, clown, philosopher, and survivalist, and 89-year-old Jo Richter, who moved to Neukölln at the age of 50 to live with a woman. The film centers on Stefan Stricker, who calls himself Juwelia and has been running a gallery on Sanderstraße in Berlin Neukölln for many years. Every weekend, he invites guests to his gallery, where he shamelessly recounts stories from his life and sings poetic songs that he wrote with his friend from Hollywood, Jose Promis. Juwelia has been poor and sexy her whole life, always fighting for recognition, but only partially achieving it. The film accompanies her to New York, where she has her first exhibition and also performs. In her hometown of Korbach in Hesse, Juwelia breaks down in tears at her mother's grave. Her mother took her own life at the age of 82 and never accepted her son's feminine side. Juwelia is a clown, philosopher, and survivalist, and still an insider tip. In addition to Juwelia, we meet 89-year-old Mrs. Richter, who moved to Neukölln at the age of 50 to find happiness with a woman. We meet the androgynous Cuban singer and dancer Joaquin la Habana, who lives with his husband.