Decoder (film)

{{Infobox film

| name = Decoder

| image = Decoder 1984 poster.jpeg

| alt = Poster for the 1984 film Decoder showing stylized imagery and text

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| director = Muscha

| writer = {{ubl|Klaus Maeck|Muscha|Volker Schäfer|Trini Trimpop}}

| producer = {{ubl|Klaus Maeck|Muscha|Volker Schäfer|Trini Trimpop}}

| starring = {{ubl|Bill Rice|F.M. Einheit|Christiane F.}}

| cinematography = Johanna Heer

| editing = {{plainlist|

Jonathon Braun
Klaus Maeck
Muscha
Volker Schäfer
Eva-Maria Will

}}

| music =

| studio = Fett Film

| distributor = Freunde der Deutschen Kinemathek

| released = {{Film date|df=y|1984|2|19|West Germany|ref1={{cite web|title=Декодер (1984) - КиноПоиск.ru|url=http://www.kinopoisk.ru/film/160082/|publisher=KinoPoisk|access-date=15 April 2014|language=ru}}}}

| runtime = 87 minutes

| country = West Germany

| language = {{ubl|German|English|Portuguese}}

| budget =

| gross =

}}

Decoder is a 1984 West German film directed by Muscha. It is a cyberpunk and counter-cultural film loosely based on the writings of William S. Burroughs, who also acts in the film.{{cite web|url=http://forgottenoldfilms.blogspot.com/2011/06/decoder-muscha-1984.html|title=Time Capsule of Almost Forgotten Films: Decoder (Muscha) [1984]|date=12 June 2011}}

Plot

The film follows Jaeger ("Hunter", played by Bill Rice), a government agent tasked with suppressing dissent. His efforts are disrupted when a musician (F.M. Einheit) discovers that replacing the calming background music at a burger shop with abrasive industrial music can spark riots, setting off a revolution.

Production

Decoder was made on a small budget and written by Muscha, Klaus Maeck, Volker Schäfer, and Trini Trimpop. Despite its limited resources, the production attracted a number of notable figures from the countercultural and industrial music scenes. The cast includes William S. Burroughs, Genesis P-Orridge, and Christiane Felscherinow. Bands whose music was featured in the film include Soft Cell, Psychic TV, Einstürzende Neubauten, and The The.

Cast

{{Cast listing|

F.M. Einheit as F.M.
Bill Rice as Jaeger
Christiane F. as Christiana
Berthold Bell as H-Burger trainer (credited as Britzhold Baron de Belle)
Matthias Fuchs as H-Burger manager
William S. Burroughs as Old Man
Genesis P-Orridge as High Priest
Ralf Richter

}}

Home media

The film was considered "oddly forgotten" and remained largely inaccessible for many years.{{cite web |url=http://motherboard.vice.com/blog/decoder%E2%80%9D-is-a-forgotten-star-studded-indie-film-about-sonic-terrorism |title="Decoder" is a Forgotten Star-Studded Indie Thriller About Sonic Terrorism |access-date=28 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140113193502/http://motherboard.vice.com/blog/decoder%E2%80%9D-is-a-forgotten-star-studded-indie-film-about-sonic-terrorism |archive-date=13 January 2014 |url-status=dead }} In 2019, it was re-released on Blu-ray and DVD by Vinegar Syndrome.{{cite web|url=https://vinegarsyndrome.com/products/decoder|title=Decoder|website=Vinegar Syndrome|access-date=10 August 2019}}