THIS AIN’T CALIFORNIA

The mere fact that this Californian form of fun could be found behind the Wall is already a sensation. Director Marten Persiel manages to show a subculture of the GDR, whose story has yet to be told – and free of the usual clichés. The director had succeeded in bringing the heroes of the scene together again. They recount stories of wild parties, of first loves, of friends who lost sight of each other after the fall of Communism, and of the clash between West and East German skaters. Thus, the bow stretches into the present – into the here and now – while the "Rollbretter" (skateboards) rattle over Alexanderplatz to a powerful soundtrack with sounds by Anne Clark, Alphaville, Die Ärzte or Feeling B.:  It’s a story of hot pants, sex and music against state-prescribed Spartakiads and championships. THIS AIN'T CALIFORNIA tells of a hitherto unknown youth movement that proves that the GDR was colourful. In this cinematic reconstruction sometimes even a bit more colourful than in real life.