The Punishment Begins

I started watching "Berlin Alexanderplatz". The title of the first chapter is funny. So the punishment begins, nice way of welcoming people into your 15 and half hour movie. Watched already the first hour. Why there are so many references to impotence? Is it how our hero feels? Impotent against society? Some camera movements are masterful, but I could do without that glitter on the screen (you know, the fuzzy look from the late seventies).