the audience applauded

Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

"Christiane F. is still today, almost 35 years after it was done, among the most famous German movies, especially if you only count the 1980s. It is about a girl who makes the wrong friends and gets sucked deeper and deeper into an abyss of drug addiction, prostitution and homelessness. I think this Berlin-set movie has some good moments, but just as many bad ones too unfortunately. Apart from that, the source material simply was not good enough to make a convincing and entertaining film that easily passes the 2-hour mark. It's not really Natja Brunckhorst's fault, she played her part well and most of the other actors were solid too, even if they are not in film anymore today or have even, like most of them, not acted in anything else apart from this movie.The writer and director here is Uli Edel still early in his career. He quickly moves to Hollywood afterward, went on to direct "The Mists of Avalon", but also the German Oscar nominee "Der Baader Meinhof Komplex". Very recently, he received his first Emmy nomination for Adrien Brody's "Houdini". But back to his work from the early 1980s here. The most interesting aspect is probably that this film is based on a real person. Christiane F. is still alive today (in her 50s) and was recently in the headlines again because she wrote a book and apparently her health isn't exactly in good shape. But still I wasn't too impressed. I am generally not a great fan of Edel. In my opinion, he very much goes for shocking sequences over great storytelling. He makes good choices in what real live events he puts on the screen, but what he makes out of that is rarely really convincing in my opinion. I also believe this film could have been better with a more competent director in charge. Not recommended and the negative highlight was the lashing scene near the end. This almost sunk the authenticity from 120 minutes before that. Thumbs down.

Christiane F. is a movie that really catches the kind of melancholic and sad atmosphere of run-down suburbs and of its dwellers. The scenes are sometimes crude when, for example, Christiane and her boyfriend Detlef, in the attempt of getting clean from drugs, spend an entire night suffering for their effort not to do heroin: they sweat, they curse, they drink and then they vomit. Therefore the scenes are realistic, direct and truly engaging. The daily life of 14 years-old kids sadly rolls out with prostitution to buy drugs and doing drugs. But the saddest thing is that this vicious circle seems far from ending, as the drug-addicted youngsters seem to be too weak to overcome their addiction that will inevitably lead to death for some of them.

"Christiane F." is one of the first mainstream movies about heroin addicts, and perhaps the first about very young ones. Supposedly the film was quite shocking because of the age of the characters (and actors) as well as the graphic drug use scenes. We meet Christiane F. when she is 12 and already getting into hallucinogenic drugs. Her friends are all interested in heroin and she starts is deeply addicted and prostituting herself by age 14, as is her best friend Babsi, and her boyfriend Detlev.With the characters rapidly deteriorating before your eyes and stooping ever lower to get their "dough", this is definitely a downer of a movie, as I guess all heroin movies are, but given the ages of the characters and the stark setting of Berlin at the height of the cold war, this one is especially bleak save for a few brief moments of teenage bliss before they are all addicted to heroin, and David Bowie's performance (Bowie composed the soundtrack and performs a song, his name attached to the project quite possibly helped it be made and contributed considerably to its success).Made in 1981, "Christiane F." clearly paved the way for "Trainspotting", but really can't match it in terms of stylized drug use scenes and really exciting scenes set to perfectly chosen pop music, despite Bowie's role in the production. Actually this movie makes "Trainspotting" look downright cheerful. It is incredibly bleak and parts are quite difficult to watch, but that is due to its emotional power. Feel-good movie this isn't, but it's absolutely worth watching. Just don't expect it to leave you in a good mood.

I'm not easily shocked but this incredible film managed to do so a number of times. Films like this appeal greatly to me as I value and appreciate realism. I like to see things how they truly are, as graphic as it may be; which this film accomplishes.Other films that strongly cover drug addiction such as Requiem for a Dream and Trainspotting are very stylized from a cinematic standpoint, were as Christiane F. is horrifically raw. Director Uli Edel holds nothing back; the film is shot in a way that gives a real feeling of authenticity, presenting a very graphic and confronting depiction of the drug culture of that era. And capturing to great effect the bleakness and despair these young people go thorough on a daily basis trying to get their fix at whatever cost.I've read many posts at IMDb from people who talk about whether or not this film glamorizes drug use. I don't think it does, not intentionally anyway. But I can understand how teenagers perhaps now but especially from that era may find that culture appealing. For example, the scenes that take place in the Sound night club and at the David Bowie concert. There's the style of dress, the music, joints being passed around the audience, the atmosphere and of course David Bowie performing live in all his glory. Tell me that wouldn't be appealing to many teenagers.Natja Brunckhorst who plays Christiane gives a very convincing performance in her first ever film role. She does appear to be a little awkward in some scene but it's understandable given the subject matter. The young cast consists of mainly unknown actors who give fine performances which is a huge credit to them all.One of the film's most appealing qualities is the amazing soundtrack provided by musical icon David Bowie, who also makes a special guest appearance. It's kind of ironic that Bowie provided the soundtrack to this film being that during the late 70s he was at the lowest point of his cocaine addiction and decided to move to Berlin kick the habit a revitalize his career, which he did with great success.Christiane F. is such an intense and powerful film. At just over two hours long I was at no point board with the plot, I found it captivating unable to look away. This is the type of film that should be shown in high schools as part of anti-drug programs, as it's an in depth look into a dehumanizing world that most of us can't imagine being a part of.