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As is true in many big countries, the Germans dub all foreign films. This often leads to hilarious discussions or guessing to discover which film hides behind a title such as Und sie wissen nicht was sie tun (Rebel Without a Cause) Since my cradle stood in Amsterdam, I am not used to nor pleased with this phenomenon. But lacking sufficient time or snobbism to seek out the original, I recently saw Wilkommen bei den Sch’tis - the strikingly accurate translation of Bienvenue chez les Ch’tis. I went to see it in East Berlin’s former Cinema Palace: Kino International on Karl Marx Allee 33. To watch a movie here will undoubtedly satisfy your Eastern European inclinations.
After passing the entryway with its remarkable ceiling, the Honecker lounge located in the huge hall upstairs is definitely beyond imagination. With its large glass façade overlooking Karl Marx Allee, the dark parquet floor, the red furniture – the intrinsic beauty and memories of long-forgotten times make this place stunning. There is no need to see a movie, you can easily have just a drink.
However I came to see a movie, and after the advertising the blue velvet curtains closed dramatically only opening after the bell ringed. Suddenly a totally golden surface became visible recalling Barbie’s evening gown. This startled my darling M., who received his Jugendweihe (youth consecration) in this very hall and who explained to me that this was the original curtain.
Though I certainly was overwhelmed by Kino international, my favorite cinema remains High End on Oranienburger Str. 54-56 in Tacheles. Maybe it’s sheer laziness because I only have to cross the street and climb the stinky stairs, but I love relaxing in one of those wonderful big red sofas.
Go further: Watch movies on the waterfront in Paris...
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Frederique van Staalen is historian and art historian from the University of Amsterdam. Hard core Amsterdamer, for the time being living in Berlin, where she develops educational art projects for children. Vegetarian, mother of two and former ballet child.