After spending four years in prison for killing his girlfriend, lumbering man-child Franz Biberkopf is finally released back into society. He wants to stay honest now he has left jail, but it is tough in the Alexanderplatz section of Berlin. After failing to succeed in several 'regular' jobs, he falls in with some old cohorts and an on-again, off-again association with thugs. Post-war society is crumbling, and it appears that nothing will bring it back. Originally made for television, Berlin Alexanderplatz is a prototype for the modern long-form drama, grandfather to Tony and the Sopranos.

Nach dem roman von [after the novel of] Alfred Döblin. Originally broadcast as a mini-series on German television from 12 October through 29 December 1980. Special features: New high definition, digital transfer; Booklet includes chapter titles [for film]; cast and credits; Essays "He Who Lives in a Human Skin" by Tom Tykwer; "The Cities of Humanity and the Human Soul: Some Unorganized Thoughts on Alfred Döblin's Novel Berlin Alexanderplatz" by Rainer Werner Fassbinder; "You've No Right to Exist, You Shall Not Be: On Alfred Döblin and His Novel Berlin Alexanderplatz" by Thomas Steinfeld; "Black and White in Color: A Conversation with Director of Photography Xaver Schwarzenberger; About the transfer.

Disc OneI. Die strafe beginnt = The punishment begins (86 min.) -- II. Wie soll man leben, wenn man nicht sterben will = How is one to live if one doesn't want to die? (62 min.). Disc Two III. Ein Hammer auf den Kopf kann die Seele verletzen = A hammer blow to the head can injure the soul (62 min.) -- IV. Eine handvoll menschen in der tiefe der stille = A handful of people in the depths of silence (62 min.) -- V. Ein schnitter mit der gewalt vom lieben Gott = A reaper with the power of our Lord (62 min.). Disc Three VI Eine Liebe, das kostet immer viel = Love has its price (62 min.) -- VII Merke--einen schwur kann man amputieren = Remember--an oath can be amputated (62 min.) -- VIII Die sonne wärmt die haut, die sie manchmal verbrennt = The suns warms the skin, but burns it sometimes too (62 min.). Disc Four IX. Von den ewigkeiten zwischen den vielen und den wenigen = About the eternities between the many and the few (62 min.) -- X. Einsamkeit reißt auch in mauern risse des irrsinns = Loneliness tears cracks of madness even in walls (62 min.) -- XI. Wissen ist macht und morgenstund hat gold im mund = Knowledge is power and the early bird catches the worm (62 min.). Disc Five XII. Die Schlange in der Seele der Schlange = The serpent in the soul of the serpent (62 min.) -- XIII. Das äußere und das innere und das geheimnis der angst vor dem geheimnis = The outside and the inside and the secret of fear of the secret (62 min.). Disc Six Fassbinder, Berlin Alexanderplatz, 14-Mein Traum vom Traum des Franz Biberkopf von Alfred Döblin: Ein Epilog = Fassbinder, Berlin Alexanderplatz, 14-my dream of the dream of the Franz Biberkopf by Alfred Döblin: An Epilog (117 min.) -- Fassbinder's Berlin Alexanderplatz: a mega movie and its story / Bavaria Film International ; Rainer Werner Fassbinder Foundation presents ; a film by Juliane Lorenz (2007) (65 min.). Disc Seven the supplements Berlin Alexanderplatz: Beobachtungen bei dreharbeiten = Notes on the making of Berlin Alexanderplatz / Bavaria Film International, eine produktion des Bayerischen Rundfunks ; von Hans-Dieter Hartl ; sprecher, Rainer Buck (1979) (44 min.) -- Fassbinder's Berlin Alexanderplatz remastered: Beobachtungen bei der restauration = Notes on the restoration / von Juliane Lorenz (2006) (32 min.) -- Berlin Alexanderplatz: Die geschichte Franz Biberkopf = Berlin Alexanderplatz: the story of Franz Biberkopf / Südefilm A.-G. zeigt ; [director, Phil Jutzi; screenplay by Alfred Döblin] (1931) (84 min.) -- Peter Jelavich Interview (2007) (24 min.).