Bulky Trash (1991): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1991, Bulky Trash is a documentary film directed by Helke Misselwitz, running about 79 minutes.

What it’s about. In early summer 1989, Helke Misselwitz portrays young musicians in a band who produce their music on other people’s waste items. The four boys call themselves "Bulk Rubbish" and they drum out their resentment, having grown up on the new housing estates of East Berlin. A straight-up picture of the GDR youth is presented here, which in no way conforms to the official image. The film crew concentrates on the observation of the boy Enrico and his mother Erika: when the mother marries in the West, her son decides to stay in East Berlin, bidding her farewell at the border-crossing. Only shortly after, the tables are turned again: as the events in Berlin leading up to the fall of the Wall are practically captured live from the film crew, Enrico insists on maintaining his cultural identity, even after the fall of the Wall. The "Bulk Rubbish" musicians want to remain citizens of their own state and perceive the looming reunification with scepticism.

Who’s in it. Bulky Trash stars Helke Misselwitz as Narrator.

How it landed. With an audience score of 6.5/10, Bulky Trash has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.

Where to watch. In US you can stream it on GuideDoc. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Bulky Trash page.

If you liked it. Fans of Bulky Trash tend to enjoy One Direction: This Is Us, Burn the Stage: The Movie, BTS World Tour: Love Yourself - Japan Edition and Senna.