Cloud Making Machine
In the documentary Cloud Making Machine three young Berliners long for a better life after recently arriving in Germany. They face many challenges in their daily routines. However, they soon find the warmth of a family in a local theater group. Through this, they begin to express their deepest emotions in video-letters sent to relatives and friends in their war-torn or poverty-stricken homelands. Moreover, these letters become a way to process fear, hope and loss.
“I was on my way in a country which I didn’t know much about. All I know is that it is full of flowers, with beautiful people smiling at me,” says Firas. His words reveal both hope and uncertainty. In addition, they highlight how fragile the first steps into a new life can feel.
Batoul, Firas and Jallow meet in an emergency host center on the outskirts of Berlin, where rows of home-containers stand beside smoky chimneys. Despite these conditions, they slowly build a sense of belonging. The drama group becomes a place where they gain a voice and a community. Consequently, each of them begins to imagine a possible future. They want friendship instead of pity, and opportunities instead of donations. One hopes to study the arts, another dreams of a music career, and a third simply wants a work permit. As a result, they experience what they call “Europe’s big dream and deceit,” a mixture of hope and harsh reality.
In their video-letters, they speak about fear, longing and love. They open up to worried mothers, childhood friends, and even to parents who are no longer alive. Meanwhile, the film follows their lives over two years, observing how they grow through both setbacks and small victories.
Scenes from their everyday routines alternate with the development of their theater play. Together, these moments create a raw and intimate portrait of three new Berliners. Ultimately, their vulnerable voices reveal the ongoing search for belonging, dignity and connection.
Susanne Dzeik – script, dop, director, editor | Armin A. W. Eichhorn – producer