“Octoberfest: Beer & Blood” (2020), posts 1-4

Here are all the posts on the series:

• Introduction and part 1 (Schwabing bohemians & Naturalism)
• Part 2 (Lou Andreas-Salomé and Franz Wedekind)
• Part 3 (Friedrich Nietzsche and Fanny zu Reventlow)
• Part 4 (Simplicissimus)

“Oktoberfest: Beer & Blood” (2020), part 3

The most famous scene in Babylon Berlin comes at the end of the second episode (first double episode of the original release): In the variety club Moka Efti, Lotte Ritter and her friends wildly gyrate along to the song “Zu Asche, zu Staub,” performed by the mysterious countess Svetlana. The song became an international hit, the whole fantastic sequence was made the official signature of the series.

There is a very similar scene in Oktoberfest, here too at the end of the second episode (44:00-46:00). A throng of Schwabing bohemians is partying riotously at the Holflinger inn. Suddenly the ruckus is hushed, a circle forms, and a young woman is introduced. Stepping with solemn intensity amidst the enthralled crowd, she gives a dramatic recitation of Nietzsche’s short poem “Pinie und Blitz” (“Pine and Lightning”)(1882). The woman is Franziska (“Fanny”) zu Reventlow, a real historical personage (one of the best known of the Schwabinger set in those days) and a real countess to boot.

The sequence is moving. As Fanny’s voice hangs in the air, the camera cuts between ruminative close-ups on several main characters, both here in the inn and in various parts of the city— and the longings of all of them magically crystallize around Nietzsche’s words of loneliness and yearning. Though derivative of the Moka Efti scene, the Oktoberfest sequence is aesthetically more sophisticated, as well as more subtle. The meaningful integration of a historical personality (Fanny is the only such character in the whole series, as far as I can see) and historical poem is an especially brilliant touch.

Anita: Danke! Meine Damen, meine Herren! Darf ich Sie um Ihre hochgeschätzte Aufmerksamkeit bitten? Für die wundervolle … Fanny!

Anita: Thank you! Ladies and gentlemen! May I request your esteemed attention? For our wonderful … Fanny!

Fanny zu Reventlow: Dies ist ein Gedicht unseres verehrten Lehrers Nietzsche. Dem ist nicht so gut geht, wie man hört. Thomas meint, es passt gut hierher. Thomas [zu Ludwig]: Die Zeichen der Zeit. Hör hin! Fanny: “Hoch wuchs ich über Mensch und Tier, / Und sprech’ ich, niemand spricht mit mir. / Zu einsam wuchs ich und zu hoch. / Ich warte — Worauf wart’ ich doch? / Zu nah ist mir der Wolken Sitz. / Ich warte auf den ersten Blitz.”

Fanny zu Reventlow: This is a poem by our honored teacher, Nietzsche. Who we hear is not doing very well. Thomas thinks it fits the occasion. Thomas [to Ludwig]: The signs of the times. Listen! Fanny: “High above man and beast am I, / I speak but no one will reply. / Too lonely and too high I grow, / I wait for what I hardly know. / Too close to gathered clouds am I, / I wait for the first flash to fly.”*

*translation Olga Marx, 1973