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The Berlin Department store Kaufhaus des Westens, KaDeWe, is second in size to Harrods in Europe and it has a long and chequered history. I watched this series on BBC4 Iplayer based on the store's history as it is set immediately after the first world war ended. It has been strangely set in Berlin with outside scenes having modern cars but the rest is very well portrayed and to the 1920 period. It has taken me by surprise as there is a sub-story of rampant lesbianism with lots of tits out and muff diving but the story is mainly about trying to bring the store back against the backdrop of the inflation caused by the war reparations. It is worth a watch if you like that period in history or just the female on female wrestling.

DWD

I caught part of an episode last weekend and it looked ok , kind of reminded me of Salon Kitty ( blast from the past) so I've set it to record. The lesbian bit doesn't really do much for me but I'll see about the rest of it.

Might give this a try tonight. If I can prise the missus off her phone!

Babylon Berlin on Sky is a better series set in the same post first world war time period in Berlin. It follows a detective and it is a complex story with a number of threads and characters. It is quite gritty.

DWD

dewaltdisney wrote: ↑Sat Oct 01, 2022 2:55 pm there is a sub-story of rampant lesbianism with lots of tits out and muff diving

I'm in

Started it last night but was too tired. Didn't mind the tits early doors! The car thing was bizarre it was like horse and cart going down a street with modern cars parked up. Do you think it was budget constraints?

Yes, I guess so, Babylon Berlin was spot on this does have a surreal feel on some of the external locations. Episode 2 has more graphic content which I am sure you will enjoy

DWD

Finally got round to watching this last night , well the first three episodes. Frankly I felt a bit disappointed. I wasn't sure whether it was meant to be about a fancy store or a lesbian affair or the economic woes of the times. Didn't help that I find little empathy with the characters with their wealth and drug use. The outside scenes with modern Berlin seemed weird with the story set in times of hyperinflation and deprivation and I don't know what was trying to be conveyed other than it being done on the cheap. I'll probably carry on as there's only six episodes in total but it's just about ok , nothing special.

I think it lost its way, I ended up skidding through the final three episodes as I got tired of it. I think they set out to capture the period and the KaDeWe store struggles but got lost in the absurd lesbianism sub-story and drug taking which added nothing. I am not sure if it was pandering to the LBG lot. Babylon Berlin is far better if you can see it on Sky Atlantic catch up.

DWD

Yeah I'm currently taping that as it's being repeated. These type of shows are bringing back memories of Berlin Alexanderplatz which came out in the 1980's . That was set in 1920/30's Germany and although memory might be wrong but I seem to remember that as decent enough. Not been repeated as far as I know.
I do find the modern backdrops somewhat off putting especially in this day and age of cgi. I can understand in the 1960's slapping a balkenkruz on a M48 and calling it a tiger but nowadays there seems no excuse really and it just distracts.