Neukölln Unlimited

The traumatising experience of a deportation is an important aspect in the documentary NEUKÖLLN UNLIMITED by Agostino Imondi and Dietmar Ratsch. A family from Lebanon has lived in Berlin Neukölln for 18 years without secure residence status and is permanently threatened with deportation. The Akkouch family had this experience once before in 2003 when they were deported to Lebanon in an overnight, hush-hush operation. The memories of this incisive experience are woven into the film as a reduced graffiti-style animation sequence. Although they were able to return to Berlin, they have lived every day with the fear of being deported again. Lebanon is not an alternative for them, because they do not speak Arabic and are part of German society.

The siblings Lial (19 years old) and Hassan (18 years old) were the only family members to receive a temporary residence permit. The two are talented dancers and musicians and are also known in the street dance and hip-hop scene beyond the borders of Berlin. They forged a plan, together with their 14-year-old brother Maradona, to use their art to secure the family’s livelihood so that they can legally stay in Germany. But the pressure of this double burden takes its toll: The sibling relationship between Lial and Hassan is strained and Maradona is having increasing problems. He is repeatedly suspended from school and receives the first criminal charges that could endanger not only his stay but also that of his family. And yet he qualifies for a TV casting show where he can win 100,000 euros.

Far from the common clichés about immigrants in problem neighbourhoods, NEUKÖLLN UNLIMITED tells of the everyday lives of three young people who are fighting for their family’s right to stay and who take their fate into their own hands.

Image © Volker Mai Indifilm