Christiane F. – Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo..the sequel

12/01/2014 22:39

We have translated the Natasha Ceci's interview to talk about the sequel to the literary and autobiographical Vera Felscherinow, the heroine of "Christiane F: Wir kinder vorm Bahnohof Zoo.

What was the genesis of the book?

"I worked for the German magazine Die Welt ,- says Sonja Vukovic co-writer of the book - and during the search of a story I came across the thirtieth anniversary of the film by Uli Edel and I decided to trace Christiane . It hasn’t been easy, even after finding it and having gained his trust . At the end the material was so wide that the idea of a book took shape naturally . "

What was after the lime quarry?

"Between 1981 and 1984, Christiane tries his musical career with her partner Alexander Hacke , a member of the band Einstürzende Neubauten , later she spent some time in Switzerland at the painter Anna Keel , wife of the Swiss publisher Daniel Keel. In 1985 he is arrested for possession of drugs and 1987-1993 Einstürzende Neubauten, later spent some time in Switzerland with the painter Anna Keel, wife of the Swiss publisher Daniel Keel. In 1985 he was arrested for possession of drugs and from 1987-1993 she lived in Greece with her boyfriend Panadiotis until he was arrested for drug dealing and Christiane returned to Berlin.

In 1996, she had a son in 2007 and in an interview on German television claims to take methadone and not more eroina but his health conditions are severe: she is suffering from a chronic form of hepatitis. In 2008, the media can lick their chops at the dramatic news that the Berlin authorities have taken away the custody of the child due to a relapse in drug addiction. Though the second life of Christiane is much more than that."

Why did you decide to tell it?

"Because the media have published stories about me everywhere, Christiane answers, but their interest was directed only to see if I was still a drug addict or not. I wanted to say : Hi, I am 51 years old, a mother , I’m still alive and I’m no longer Christiane F. but Mrs. Felscherinow and I did a great job with my son."

What is your relationship with the myth of " Christiane F. " ?

"I suddenly became famous . I could not imagine what impact this book would have, I was only sixteen and tell it was a good therapy for me. My parents didn’t care about it and I became a star and a stigma at the same time . For the audience I was simply the most famous drug addict "

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Is your the biography also a biography of a generation?

"I always wondered who were those people who read my biography. But I never asked why: I do not think that there is something special in it. Hundreds of people had and have a story similar to mine."

Has it changed the " scene " of the drug today?

" I do not think that has changed much except for the fact that you can call the dealer via mobile phone. But they are no longer in that round today , I became a mother when I was 34 years old and since then they have a replacement program . "

What do you think about German policies on drugs ? In the Berlin district of Kreuzberg has sparked a debate on the possible opening of a coffee shop..

"I do not speak of political issues since many young people considered romantic and charming everything they read in the book with a consequent publication of articles on how parents and teachers could watch these guys fascinated by those stories . I do not know if this is good or not. "

How do you imagine your third life?

"I want a house in the countryside , quiet and surrounded by animals. Maybe near a lake or a forest ."

"The story of Christiane is not only a history of drug abuse , but also a story about a girl who has to take care of herself , neglected childhood , searching for her own identity, a balance" says Sonja Vukovic. The investigation is ongoing , feverish , through the story of a generation , she fights with a stigma , not to be Christiane , Christiane Felscherinow but not Christiane F. forever. Each chapter of the book is a chance that the woman didn’t know, didn’t wanted, wasn’t able to gather behind a flap that has devoured her teens and now pointed as a tragic mother. If she has changed the world around, however, has the same cloth. The criminalization of an heroin addict continues to create a short circuit with the double morality of a society steeped in drug addiction, in the crackdown of clubbing, the new creative class , and all those who do not necessarily have to be expanded consciousness but only a desire for pure stunning . Tolerance, if there was, remains apparent, as always concealed under the guise of social control. Christiane Felscherinow is also a symbol of a generation mowed in a specific location , or in West Berlin of the seventies and eighties , lost between East and West , which throbbed beneath the veneer decadent glamor and international date from Bowie or Iggy Pop and tried to heal its historical wounds"

@ NatashaCeci

If you want read the book click here