film · ostkreuz I + II

A cinematic portrait of Berlin’s Ostkreuz railway station.

Both loved and hated, Ostkreuz was, from 1882 to 2005, a vast, permanent makeshift structure, also known as "Rostkreuz". The station was a place that had evolved over time, with a patina that gave it its very soul and charm. A space not yet entirely dominated by efficiency, regulation and surveillance.

The film explores this special atmosphere and hints at the loss of individual character, social relationships and established structures. A balancing act between necessary modernisation and the preservation of a unique piece of Berlin’s contemporary history. The film’s soundtrack consists exclusively of sampled original sounds from the old station: the metallic echo of the cast-iron columns, the creaking of the wooden planks, the ticking of the clock and the journey indicators, and the sound of human voices coming from the crackling loudspeaker. A vibrant, rhythmic soundscape that allows the spirit of the station to breathe.