Illegal rhythms, invisible borders — Berlin's heartbeat has a price.
The Berlin Symphony of Rhythm, a powerful 95-minute documentary by multiple award-winning Nigerian-German filmmaker Idris Aleshinloye, whose prior works Breaking Borders and Silent Scars have garnered international acclaim for their bold, human-centered storytelling. This emotionally charged film pulls back the curtain on Berlin’s vibrant street performance scene, revealing a world where captivating music and public artistry mask deeper societal tensions. Though Berlin is widely celebrated as a global cultural capital, the very artists who infuse its streets with rhythm and soul, many of them migrants or cultural minorities often face an often harsh and invisible struggle. Street performance remains technically illegal in many areas of the city, subjecting these musicians to fines, confiscation of instruments, and public hostility.
Direction
Aleshinloye's patient, unflinching gaze.
Sound
The city itself becomes percussion.
Editing
Cuts between joy and bureaucracy sting.
Director
Idris Aleshinloye
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
DE
