A Coffee In Berlin 2014

Niko attempts to slip away from his girlfriend’s apartment before she wakes up, feeling compelled to inform her that he won’t be returning that evening for some vague obligations. Though she offers him coffee, he declines, insisting he’s already late. As he moves boxes into his new apartment, nostalgia washes over him as he sifts through old photographs and checks his mail. An official letter reveals that he has missed an important appointment.

This appointment is with a state psychologist following his recent DUI arrest. During the session, Niko reveals that he has dropped out of law school. The psychologist takes a roundabout approach, probing into Niko’s personal life with questions about his sexual orientation, insecurities regarding his height, and his relationships with his parents. Ultimately, the psychologist decides not to reinstate Niko’s driving license, deeming him unstable.

Later, when Niko visits a trendy coffee shop, he finds himself short on cash. He selflessly hands what little money he has to a sleeping beggar, only to have the ATM swallow his bank card. A passerby misinterprets this as an attempted theft, and in the midst of the chaos, he leaves a voice message for his father, asking for help with his banking woes. Shortly after, his lonely neighbor surprises him with a housewarming gift and uninvitedly enters his new home. As the neighbor shares his personal struggles, Niko finds himself awkwardly comforting the man during his emotional breakdown.

Niko then meets up with his friend Matze, a struggling actor, for lunch at a pub. Unfortunately, when Niko orders a coffee, he discovers that the machine is out of order. A familiar face from his past, Julika, recognizes him and approaches the table. Transformed from her overweight school days, Julika is now an attractive and slender woman who confides that she had a crush on Niko when they were younger and shares her tale of overcoming her past. Now an avant-garde dancer, she invites both Niko and Matze to her performance later that night.

The duo then visits a movie set where Matze’s friend stars as a Nazi officer in a film about love and sacrifice during World War II. They spend time in his trailer, and while there, Niko’s father returns his earlier call. Niko tells him he’s busy studying at the library, but his father offers to bond over a round of golf.

At the golf course, Niko’s father introduces him to his younger assistant, Schneider, claiming him to be “my favorite son.” Niko retorts, stating he’s the only son. The jovial atmosphere takes a turn when his father, who openly criticizes Niko’s golf skills, confronts him about dropping out of law school and misrepresenting his life for two years. In a charged moment, Niko insists, >“I have thought about myself and about you.” His father, undeterred, labels him a disappointment and suggests he get a job “like everyone else.” After handing Niko several hundred euros, his father departs, leaving Niko to drink alone and wander through the forest, lost in thought.

Later at the subway station, Niko finds the ticket machine broken and rides without a ticket. An absurd confrontation with two plainclothes ticket inspectors ensues, which he narrowly escapes by hopping onto a different train. He then purchases liquor from a local convenience store.

As night falls, Matze picks Niko up, first stopping for drugs from his friend Marcel. Their arrival at the apartment is marked by the musty presence of Marcel’s elderly grandmother, who offers them sandwiches and introduces Niko to her electric recliner, momentarily distracting him from his troubles.

Arriving late to Tacheles for Julika’s play, the two friends squeeze into their seats to witness a bewildering avant-garde performance, leaving Matze in fits of laughter. After the show, emotions flare at the cast party when Julika introduces them to the intense writer and director, who confronts Matze for his inability to appreciate the art. Stepping outside for some air, Niko finds himself in an unexpected situation as three drunken men harass Julika. A fight ensues, culminating in Niko being punched in the face. Back in the dressing room, the two share a moment of vulnerability before their intimacy takes an uncomfortable turn when Julika demands he vocalize an acceptance of her past. Niko’s reluctance leads to an explosive fallout, with Julika accusing him of being superficial.

Feeling lost and humiliated, Niko heads to a bar in search of solace. After ordering a coffee, he learns the machine has already been cleaned for the night. He opts for vodka and beer instead. An elderly, chatty man takes a seat beside him, insisting on engaging in conversation while ignoring Niko’s pleas for peace. The older man reflects on his past, reminiscing about a bygone era when he was taught to salute Hitler, recounting painful memories tied to the establishment that now serves drinks. After an emotional exchange, the man collapses outside, prompting Niko to accompany him to the hospital. Sadly, the following morning, the man succumbs, and Niko learns through the nurses that he had no family, leaving him to ponder the weight of life and loss as he steps out into a new day.

With trembling hands, he finally allows himself a well-deserved cup of coffee in a diner, marking a potential turning point in his disordered life.