Kaddish for a Friend
Streaming|Goethe on Demand – Alles Liebe
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Online Online
- Language German with DE, EN, FR, ES, PT, IT, ZH, RU, CA subtitles
- Price Free of charge, registration in Goethe on Demand portal is required
- Part of series: Lots of Love
Drama // 2011 // Leo Khasin // 94 minutes
Ali is new to the Kreuzberg neighbourhood and takes part in a dare: breaking into the home of a Russian-Jewish neighbour. In order to prevent his deportation, he makes amends, and a touching story of unlikely friendship unfolds.
14-year-old Ali Messalam fled Lebanon with his family and grew up in a Palestinian refugee camp. He has now been living in Berlin Kreuzberg for four years. Although their asylum is still on shaky ground, the family is allowed to move into their own flat for the time being. Ali tries to fit in with the teenagers in the neighbourhood, but first he has to prove himself. On a dare, he breaks into the flat of his Jewish-Russian neighbour Alexander. The violent youths follow Ali and trash the old man’s apartment. But only Ali is recognised by Alexander, who returns early, and he is reported to the police. Ali is now facing criminal proceedings and his family could be deported from Germany. His worried mother manages to put in a good word for her son with Alexander: Alexander agrees to withdraw the charges on the condition that Ali helps him renovate his apartment. Reluctantly, the boy agrees. Coming from different generations and cultural backgrounds, the two initially treat each other with hostility. But little by little, the ice breaks and respect, and eventually even affection, develops. When Alexander wants to keep his promise after renovating the apartment and withdraw the complaint against Ali, it proves to be more difficult than expected – the cautious friendship between the two is put to a hard test.
Ali is new to the Kreuzberg neighbourhood and takes part in a dare: breaking into the home of a Russian-Jewish neighbour. In order to prevent his deportation, he makes amends, and a touching story of unlikely friendship unfolds.
14-year-old Ali Messalam fled Lebanon with his family and grew up in a Palestinian refugee camp. He has now been living in Berlin Kreuzberg for four years. Although their asylum is still on shaky ground, the family is allowed to move into their own flat for the time being. Ali tries to fit in with the teenagers in the neighbourhood, but first he has to prove himself. On a dare, he breaks into the flat of his Jewish-Russian neighbour Alexander. The violent youths follow Ali and trash the old man’s apartment. But only Ali is recognised by Alexander, who returns early, and he is reported to the police. Ali is now facing criminal proceedings and his family could be deported from Germany. His worried mother manages to put in a good word for her son with Alexander: Alexander agrees to withdraw the charges on the condition that Ali helps him renovate his apartment. Reluctantly, the boy agrees. Coming from different generations and cultural backgrounds, the two initially treat each other with hostility. But little by little, the ice breaks and respect, and eventually even affection, develops. When Alexander wants to keep his promise after renovating the apartment and withdraw the complaint against Ali, it proves to be more difficult than expected – the cautious friendship between the two is put to a hard test.