LOU REED'S BERLIN

Year: 2007
USA: Third Rail Releasing
UK: Optimum Releasing
Cast: Lou Reed, Steve Hunter, Fernando Saunders, Tony 'Thunder' Smith, Rupert Christie, Rob Wasserman, Sharon Jones, Antony, Steven Bernstein, Curtis Fowlkes, Paul Shapiro, Doug Wieselman, David Gold, Eyvind Kang, Jane Scarpantoni
Director: Julian Schnabel
Country: USA
USA & UK: 85 mins
USA Rated: PG-13 for brief language
UK Certificate: 12A contains one use of strong language and references to sex and drugs
USA Release Date: 18 July 2008 (Limited Release)
UK Release Date: 25 July 2008 (Limited Release)

UK Distributor

Synopsis

Staging Berlin has been discussed for over 30 years and in December of 2006 it became a reality. Berlin was said to be one of the most depressing albums ever made. But as it was brought to life it was far from dismal. Using the divided city of Berlin as its backdrop the story of Caroline and her lovers is told through the emotive and provocative words of Lou Reed.

With performers like Fernando Saunders, Antony, Steve Hunter, Rob Wassermann, Rupert Christie and Sharon Jones, a seven piece orchestra and the Brooklyn Youth Chorus all working to create a captivating and enveloping world, Lou Reed is able to take the audience with him as he bares witness to Caroline's self-destruction.

Julian's set design creates the backdrop of a hotel with greenish walls and Lola Schnabel (Julian's daughter), has created short films projected on the stage which display the beauty and tragedy of the narrator's leading lady (played by Emmanuelle Seigner).

From the director Julian Schnabel

"Lou Reed recorded the album Berlin in 1973 and it was a commercial failure. Over the next 33 years, he never performed the album live. For five nights in December 2006 at St. Ann's Warehouse Brooklyn, Lou Reed performed his masterwork about love's dark sisters: jealousy, rage and loss."