Könige der Welt

We were kings
There’s a particular magic inherent in every beginning. And a cool spell which sets the magic in motion is part of it. Around the turn of the millennium, garage band Union Youth from Lower Saxony records a demo tape and send it to the major music labels in the US. Attached to the recording is a little yellow note which says: ‘We promise we’re gonna be the best rock band of all time. And if you don’t believe that – fuck off!’
Fifteen years on: the memories of their brief triumphant rise have long since faded on old video tapes – not to mention recollections of the long nightmarish descent through the purgatory that is failure. One day Maze, the band’s singer, decides to return to what he loves most: music. The old gang comes together. Will they manage to reinvent themselves? They already have a name, PICTURES. But their rehearsals are an odd affair and at some point Maze simply stops coming. The friends begin to realise that he’s in trouble: drugs and depression are causing him to lose his grip and his sense of who he is. But in spite of their fears they are determined to collectively take on the responsibility for their project – a new tour, a new start. The dream begins.
by Christian von Brockhausen, Timo Großpietsch
with Maze Exler, Michael Borwitzky, Ole Fries, Markus Krieg
Germany 2017 German 94’ Colour Documentary form

With

  • Maze Exler
  • Michael Borwitzky
  • Ole Fries
  • Markus Krieg

Crew

Director Christian von Brockhausen, Timo Großpietsch
Cinematography Christian von Brockhausen, Timo Großpietsch
Editing Andreas von Huene
Music PICTURES, Union Youth et al.
Sound Design Michel Wähling
Sound Christian von Brockhausen, Timo Großpietsch
Production Management Bettina Wieselhuber
Commissioning Editor Barbara Denz
Co-Producer Olaf Jacobs

Produced by

NDR

Christian von Brockhausen

Born in Hanover, Germany in 1979, he studied politics in Cologne. In 2008 he joined public broadcaster NDR as an intern and has since worked as a writer, director and editor.

Filmography (documentaries)

2012 Hudekamp – ein Heimatfilm (Hudekamp) 2017 Könige der Welt (We were kings)

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2017

Timo Großpietsch

Born in Hamburg, Germany in 1977, he studied media and cultural anthropology at the University of Hamburg as well as photography and documentary film at the University of Fine Arts of Hamburg. He joined German public broadcaster NDR as an intern and is now an editor and documentary filmmaker.

Filmography (documentaries)

2015 STADT (THE CITY) 2017 Könige der Welt (We were kings)

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2017