Career > Feature Films > 2019 > Berlin, I Love You Berlin, I Love You February 08, 2019 | 100 minutes

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Keira Knightley (Jane), Helen Mirren (Margaret), Luke Wilson (Burke Linz), Jim Sturgess (Jared), Mickey Rourke (Jim), Jenna Dewan (Mandy), Emily Beecham (Hannah), Dianna Agron (Katarina), Veronica Ferres (Else Speck), Diego Luna (Drag Queen), Iwan Rheon (Greg), Charlotte Le Bon (Rose), Sibel Kekilli (Yasil), Nolan Gerard Funk (Nico), Julia Dietze (Tania), Sylvester Groth (Frosch), Toni Garrn (Heather), Yvonne Maria Schäfer (Janis), Pheline Roggan (Anne), Robert Stadlober (Damiel), Alexander Black (Selim), Hannelore Elsner (Madame Rose), Rafaëlle Cohen (Sara), Michael Pink (Jo Jo), Sandra Nedeleff (Aide Worker), Max Raabe (Himself), Carol Schuler (Laila), Laila Maria Witt (Berlin Woman), Carlo Kitzlinger (Spaeti Owner), Diana Birenyte (Dancer), Hans Schenker (Mitchel), Monique Lange (Dancer), Kostas Sommer (Agent), Kunjue Li (Kim), Irina Krichely (Anne)

After the critical acclaim of 2006’s anthology film “Paris, je t’aime”, a version set in Germany’s vibrant capitol city Berlin seemed inevitable, although the success of its predecessors “New York, I Love You” and “Rio, Eu Te Amo” were rather arthouse than mainstream. And unfortunately, “Berlin, I Love You”, as well intentioned it might have been, turned into a mess of short stories and a view of the city that is rather meant to be an urban tourist video than an accurate view on the city, as every critic has noted in their shattering reviews. As Frank Scheck wrote for the Hollywood Reporter, “most anthology films give you the comfort of knowing that if you don’t like one segment, another one will be following in just a few minutes. Berlin, I Love You perversely does the opposite. It makes you nervous that if you don’t like one segment, which you surely won’t, another mediocre-to-awful one will follow.”

To add fuel to an already negative reception, the film’s most prominent director, Ai Weiwei became very vocal against the production after his contribution to the movie was left on the cutting-room floor. Ai contends that the segment he shot for “Berlin, I Love You” was axed by the producers for political reasons, out of fear of upsetting Chinese officials. But Emmanuel Benbihy, the film’s Shanghai-based executive producer, says that Ai’s segment did not meet the requirements for inclusion and that the award-winning artist is obsessed with criticizing China. Ai directed his piece remotely, issuing instructions by video-call, while under house arrest in China, to Claus Clausen, the Germany-based producer of the film, who co-directed. (Ai later relocated permanently to Berlin.) The segment focuses on a boy, played by Ai’s son, who discovers a new city and uses unreliable technology to keep in touch with his distant father.

“Berlin, I Love You” was submitted to the Berlin Film Festival but failed to land a slot, even out of competition or in one of the fest’s sidebars. Instead, it began its commercial career with a February 08 theatrical release, handled by Saban Films, in the U.S.