Kassensturz: Fighting neighbors against the gentrification in Berlin!

Kassensturz: Fighting neighbors against the gentrification in Berlin!

In the age of gentrification in German cities, the struggle for the social legacy of neighborhoods is becoming increasingly tangible. The feature film Kassensturz offers an appropriate example of this, which in 2020 tells under the direction of Hagen Bogdanski about the challenges of neighbors and their communities in Berlin. The main character, Werner Träsch, played by Uwe Ochsenknecht, is faced with the challenge of saving his beloved stem "Zur Traube", which is led by Lothar and Regine Schenker. ARD Mediathek reports that the suffers under pressure, because the donors are forced to rent their apartment and even sleep in the garage.

core topics of the film are not only the cohesion in the neighborhood, but also the social problems that arise from rising rents. Lothar's health condition suffers from the financial needs, and Werner is forced to collect the debts of the regular guests. Gabi, his partner, supports the donors in the financial reorganization, but soon their relationship will also be put to the test when Werner wants to offer the donors a temporary accommodation in their new apartment.

The reality of the gentrification

The problem of gentrification is not only filmy in Berlin, but also in the real world omnipresent. The taz emphasizes that Kiezkneipen, such as the Tomsky Bar in Prenzlauer Berg, are affected by the challenges of change. Since 1992 the bar has existed by Martin Kaltenmaier. But now she too is about to sell because the owner wants to sell the house. The former neighborhood, which was characterized by affordable apartments, is more and more replaced by expensive condominiums.

Kaltenmaier started a petition to maintain his pub to preserve the nostalgic atmosphere that is reminiscent of past neighborhoods. At the same time, the Tomsky Bar is a place of cohesion at a time when neighbors are increasingly intolerant and complain about the noise and smells that affect the bar.

consequences for the community

The effects of the gentrification are profound. Berlin intensively illustrates these currents by indicating the rising rental prices that burden the particularly long-standing residents. The new demand for living space means that investors are increasing more and more emphasis on the upgrading of districts, often regardless of the existing tenants. Old existing real estate is being renovated or replaced by new buildings, which leads to a loss of social structures and a weaker sense of community.

political measures such as the rental price brake should alleviate these problems, but the actual results are mixed. District initiatives are actively trying to meet residents' changed needs and ensure the preservation of social living space. It is clear that the struggle for diversity and the cultural heritage of the city continues and that neighborhoods have to be more oriented towards the needs of their residents.