Berlin Utopiekadaver

A “wave of evictions” is sweeping Berlin. The last left-wing autonomous housing projects are to be dissolved and their residents forced to leave the city. The film shows different generations of a subculture talking about themselves, fighting for their existence, but also dancing and crying together. A taxi driver drives through the city of Berlin and talks about the changes and the boom in the real estate market. He himself is a punk, left-wing, and a well-known figure in the autonomous scene. The stops on his journey are the most important places in the left-wing autonomous scene: Rigaer Straße, Liebigstraße, the Tuntenhaus, Potse, Drugstore, Syndikat, Meuterei, and Köpi; all fighting for survival. Young people like the Potse and Drugstore collectives fear for their self-determined lives. Women from Liebigstraße describe how important their house project was as a space for FLINTA* people seeking support. The last evictions have not yet been processed and the next ones are already pending: the autonomous youth center Potse has to hand over the keys and negotiations for the Köpi Wagenplatz are already underway. We move with the protagonists through their world. Together with them, we go to rallies, concerts, demonstrations, KüFas (kitchen for all), and through their private and professional lives. Again and again, a loud voice sounds from the megaphone, declaring war on the city of the rich. BERLIN UTOPIEKADAVER 2024 celebrated its premiere at the Max Ophüls Prize film festival in Saarbrücken, where it competed in the documentary film category and won the award for best music. Other festival stops included achtung berlin – new berlin film award as well as international screenings, such as in the program of the Goethe-Institut Mexico.