"Symphony of Now" is a new German documentary movie from 2018. The director is Bavarian filmmaker Johannes Schaff and at slightly over an hour, it is a really short film. At least for a full feature film. The focus here is on the German capital Berlin and the title makes obvious that this is of course a reference back to "Berlin - Die Sinfonie der Großstadt", a German silent film classic from over 90 years ago. And there are others that focus on life in Germany and Berlin to be more specific back in that early era of historical movies. But now back to this one here. There are several segments and the division what is included when is not always easy to understand. But that's just a minor problem. Overall, I as a Berlin citizen enjoyed the watch here I think. It was good they kept it this short I believe too. There is no narration, also no moment of silence and no sounds resulting from what you see in this film. All you hear is music, most of the time techno and electronic music. And even if I am not a huge fan of this genre, actually not at all, I thought it fit in nicely with the vidual side and the constant flow the city of Berlin has to offer. So yeah, I liked it. But I am biased of coruse as it was especially nice to see certain corners of the city that i know very well myself and that I frequently happen to be myself even occasionally. There is a whole lot of partying action too, none of it did too much for me, but I also did not hate it in a way I think I might because that is the exact opposite of my favorite spare time activity. What else can I say here. This film will definitely not as big and seen by as many as the old movie it references and in almost a century, it will probably be completely forgotten, but this should not keep you from watching this one. Maybe if you have zero connection to Berlin, you can skip it because it will not really get you interested in the city per se. But if you have even been here, then you will find some locations, some activities, some references you will be able to appreciate. Schaff did a good job here, it's a thumbs-up from me. Not a must-see though.
5 Reviews
A modern classic.
filmforever_428 August 2018
Saw this film at a screening in Berlin and was overwhelmed! I was raised here and been living here ever-since, and of course, I'm aware that Symphony of Now is not showing ALL facets of Berlin (which would be impossible for any film anyway). This intimate, very personal perspective on Berlin really got me hooked. Unlike the 1927 silent film classic 'Berlin-Symphony of a Great City', to which Symphony of Now is referencing, the filmmakers focus less on the city as an urban body itself, but more on the humans of Berlin. This seems to open up a new realm of questions about the pleasures, and also the struggles of modern urban life, which seems relevant also to people's situations in many other cities around the world: the tensions and often dilemmas, to name a few, between culture and escapism, neatness and ruggedness, old and young/new, past, present and future, vivid social life and solitude, responsibility and laissez-faire....
The soundtrack is fantastic, too - a timeless piece!
I can imagine very well that the perception of Symphony of Now will also change with time, and that makes it even more interesting: The film depicts a part of life Berlin 'in the now', but that particular atmosphere might be gone in 10 years. So watching the film then might feel like looking into a time capsule.
Time will tell if once Symphony of Now will become a classic like 'Berlin-Symphony of a Great City' - which, by the way, was slammed by critics and the audience back then, and became a classic as time passed.
Magic between music and cinema - Berlin We Love You!
brendanshelper13 February 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I was quite close to the production and process of this film, the magic is really in the concept as much as the killer sound track and celebratory images.
The film was modelled off "Berlin - The City Symphony. A German experimental documentary by Walther Ruttmann, which premiered in Berlin in September 1927." The same structure and length were used but rather than 12 hrs of a day in Berlin, Symphony of Now follows 12hrs of an evening or several evenings merged into one.
The great thing about the music is that it was actually composed by the musicians whilst watching the old black and white Walter Ruttmann film - so the historic images became the backbone of this modern remake. The rhythm and tempo was established by the old film and paired with modern images of today.
The approach is truly inventive and I would encourage you to watch both films to realise the impact of silent film making, both then, and now.
The approach is truly inventive and I would encourage you to watch both films to realise the impact of silent film making, both then, and now.
The spirit of Berlin
udo-1449516 February 2018
"Symphony of Now" is capturing a night in Berlin with a score by electronic composers Frank Wiedemann, Hans-Joachim Roedelius, Gudrun Gut and others.
The sequel of infamous "Sinfonie der Großstadt" from 1927 is an update to the classic Berlin silent documentary, but unfortunately lacks a narrative.
The film shows some very special street partys like 1st of May and Fete De La Musique, which happen once a year, pretending this all happens every night in Berlin. Which is not the case.
This is not the Berlin I know and so the film is less a documentary of Berlin 2018 than a 1 hour long commercial for the German capital. While it might be interesting to watch for people who don't know Berlin yet, I would prefer to go out into the Berlin night to have a better experience than this pointless flood of images and Berlin cliches.
The sequel of infamous "Sinfonie der Großstadt" from 1927 is an update to the classic Berlin silent documentary, but unfortunately lacks a narrative.
The film shows some very special street partys like 1st of May and Fete De La Musique, which happen once a year, pretending this all happens every night in Berlin. Which is not the case.
This is not the Berlin I know and so the film is less a documentary of Berlin 2018 than a 1 hour long commercial for the German capital. While it might be interesting to watch for people who don't know Berlin yet, I would prefer to go out into the Berlin night to have a better experience than this pointless flood of images and Berlin cliches.
What a Masterpiece!
ThaliaDavies26 February 2020
If you've ever wondered what the draw card to Berlin for creatives in 2018 this is the film for you! I was lucky enough to attend the opening of it which also had the soundtrack performed live. In this city there is a party, carnival, celebration every week (more so than in any other city/country I've lived in) and this film has captured that atmosphere to a tee. Masterpiece!
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
