A round-the clock-portrait of Berlin from an underground, freaked-out perspective. Documentary shots filmed as life races by, staged absurdities, sequences to catch the impetus of an extraordinary metropolis. Pictures which may also be typical of many other cities, yet which occasionally become distorted into scenes of morbidity and constructive insanety which are typical for the wall-capital in its isolation. "Someting is always happening in (West) Berlin"is the suggestion the film makes. Nobody seems to devote themselves to projects which are planned and orientated towards the future; everyone seems to enjoy dressing up and disguising themselves. Wearing masks of indolence, going crazy for cravings, giving secret inclinations, adopting a position in the nomans-land beyond the norms - this is apparently the main hobby in "Rest-Berlin". The "has-been film star" of German Reich retains its dubious glory only in memories; the official present is trivial, the future much too uncertain. Berlin seeks refuge in culture and show-business; cheap vulgarity more often than high-class glamour. The day has flown past, nothing has really happened - or everything has: everybody has been a star for 10 minutes on the vagabond stage in the impossible city where everything is possible.
BARRY GRAVES